The first headline act for a new LGBT parade event has been announced.

Singer-songwriter Sandi Thom, from Banff, is set to headline Grampian Pride, which will take place on May 26.

The singer announced the news via social media, although accidentally revealed the wrong date.

Organisers have confirmed that she is lined up to take part and the date originally given by the star was a genuine mistake.

Justine Smithies, co-chairwoman of the event, said: “We are really excited. It’s looking like it’s going really well.

“We’ve been quite surprised. Initially we had 1,000 tickets, and before we mentioned Sandi Thom, about 700 tickets were gone already.”

Organisers released 1,000 to see how much interest in the event there was, with 5,000 tickets in total being available closer to the event date.

Justine added: “It’s been unbelievable. We’ve had people from Australia sign up. There’s going to be a lot of people.”

Grampian Pride, which is the first LGBT parade in the North-east, will see the entire length of Union Street turned into a colourful procession.

Hollyoaks actress Annie Wallace, who plays head teacher Sally St Claire in the soap, will be leading the parade down Union Street.

The star, who was the first transgender actress to be nominated for a Scottish Bafta, said: “It’ll be a fabulous day celebrating equality and I hope everyone comes out to join us in the march.”

There will also be a Pride Village at the Links, beside Aberdeen Beach, where there will be live music. With more acts still to be announced, it’s expected the event will attract even more interest.

Justine said: “You don’t have to be LGBT to go. It’s a really important thing. It’s about education, and to raise awareness of the LGBT community and gender.”

Entry to the parade is free, with members of the public asked to register for a ticket to help organisers gauge numbers for safety. Tickets will also offer exclusive discounts for local businesses on the day, and will also give entry into the Pride Village.

You can sign up at www.grampianpride.org/tickets