Sir Ian McKellen leads first Pride Parade in Perth Published duration 10 August 2019

image copyright Marysia MacFarlane image caption Sir Ian McKellen joined the crowds parading through the city streets

Sir Ian McKellen has led the first ever Pride Parade in Perth.

The Lord of the Rings star joined hundreds of people creating a wave of colour through the streets of the city.

Sir Ian, a veteran equal rights activist and LGBT+ campaigner, gave a speech before the main Pride festival kicked off.

It is being staged at Horsecross Plaza, which has been transformed into the Pride Village with music and dance performances.

image copyright Lightpress Media and Design image caption Sir Ian gave a speech before the main festival

Sir Ian told the crowds: "It's a big day. A big day for the people involved and the people who've organised it and a big day for the people who are visiting.

"It's wonderful. I've been to Prides all over the world but I've never had such a beautiful walk as we've just had along the Tay."

The actor welcomed the number of supporters who lined the streets, saying there were parents and their children "all waving at us as we walked along, all on our side".

image copyright Lightpress Media and Design image caption Hundreds of people joined the parade

Organisers said the main event would see drag performance queen Voss take to the stage "with big hair and big dreams".

There will also be a Guinness world record attempt for the world's largest Gaylidh (Ceilidh).

This year is the second instalment of Perthshire Pride, having hosted its inaugural event in 2018.

The celebrations mark the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots - the event that sparked the LGBT+ rights movement worldwide.