Thousands of revellers streamed through the capital on Saturday for the annual Pride London parade - the biggest day in the UK's biggest gay rights event. Organisers expect to attract up to a million people to the nine-day festival which ends on Sunday

Participants followed 21 floats - sponsored by organisations such as the Trades Union Congress and firms like British Airways - through central London to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) community

Drag queens tottered on heels and people blew whistles while members of the armed forces marched in unison. In Soho - the gay capital of London - roads were closed to traffic for a lively street party

Among those carrying an enormous flag of rainbow colours - a traditional sign of diversity and inclusiveness - were members of the Out at Tesco network - a group of employees of the supermarket chain who have formed to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people

The parade started at 1300 BST in Regent Street, heading through Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square. This year's theme was the Carnival of Love, and many marchers wore spectacular and creative fancy dress costumes

Among those addressing the crowd on the main stage in Trafalgar Square was former England rugby union star Ben Cohen, who is considered an icon by many in the gay community. Others had their own individual messages