Traders have vowed it will be business as usual in Brighton city centre tomorrow despite the influx of people for the Pride festival.

Retailers are keen to get the message out that the Pride procession will be clear of the city by noon and the shops will be open in the afternoon.

City centre manager Soozie Campbell said: "Although 80,000 people will be joining the Pride parade tomorrow, the majority will be heading for Preston Park. I want to allay any fears that the city centre will be overcrowded. Furthermore, the council's transport department and Brighton and Hove buses have been working hard to ensure easy all-day access to the city centre for shoppers."

Shoppers have been advised to use public transport rather than drive. Buses will terminate short of the city centre or skirt around it while the parade is in full flow. These diversionary measures have been put in place to ensure the buses avoid any congestion and are able to keep to the usual timetable. Passenger advisers will be on hand to answer questions and a shuttle bus will run along Western Road between Palmeira Square and Montpelier Road.

The changes will be in force from 10.30am until 2pm. A full timetable for the day is available on www.buses.co.uk/bustimes/pride2005.htm Preston Road along the west edge of Preston Park will be closed to all traffic between noon and 9pm tomorrow.

St James's Street will be closed to vehicles from 7pm tomorrow to 2am on Sunday, then again from 2pm to 8pm on Sunday.

Friday, August 5, 2005