HEREFORDSHIRE Pride is returning this year with a burlesque performer headlining the evening entertainment.

The event on July 30 will take place at the Booth Hall in Hereford during the day before moving to The Venue in the evening for ProudNight.

It is organised by the Hereford Values Board, which was set up by Neville Meredith, race equality development officer at Herefordshire Council, and Nick Semper, safer neighbourhood team inspector for Hereford city.

Rebecca Ashton, who is a member of the board and organising this year's event with Char Carter, Hannah Mai Young and Jayce Young of ProudNight, said: "The Values Board identifies and champions ‘FACE’ values – fairness, acceptance, community and equality.

"Herefordshire Pride is about promoting the dignity, equality and rights of the LGBT community in Herefordshire in a supportive and inclusive way, whilst addressing and aiming to reduce social stigma, violence and discrimination against sexual diversity and gender variance."

She added: "ProudNight is about trying to celebrate similarities rather than focus on the differences and to give people a safe environment to be themselves."

The first Herefordshire Pride was in 2012 at The Spread Eagle in King Street. There was live music and around 300 people attended.

In 2013 they went back to the Spread Eagle again with a larger outdoor stage and a larger line-up and 500 people turned up.

Pride provides a platform for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

Mrs Ashton added: "What we would like to encourage is for local business and pubs in town to support us by joining in - just to get in the spirit so it spread across the city."

They are also looking for volunteers to help out during the day.

If you would like to help email Mrs Ashton at manager@newtonfarmcommunity.com