Barking and Dagenham Council paraded a float for the second year in a row as they celebrated this year’s Pride in London Parade on Saturday, 6 July.

Around 70 people from the borough joined thousands of revellers on the capital’s streets to represent the borough at London’s iconic parade, which started at Portland Place past Piccadilly Circus, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square.

Among the borough’s supporters were councillors, local residents and representatives from Flipside, the council’s youth support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and staff.

It was an amazing experience to march through the streets of London with members of the council and community to show our stance and support for the LGBT+ community.

The group sported t-shirts that had been designed by a local resident, who won a competition to have their design chosen.

Councillor Lynda Rice, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Diversity, said: “We are elated to have played our part in one of the world’s biggest parades, for the second consecutive year with a float and third time overall. We will continue to show our support as we celebrate our differences.

“Our borough has come together once again to not only design a fantastic float, but also an amazing t-shirt. A special mention to Flipside whose t-shirt competition gave us our winning design that we were proud to wear. It was an amazing experience to march through the streets of London with members of the council and community to show our stance and support for the LGBT+ community.

“We are one borough, one community in Barking and Dagenham. We are proud of our LGBT+ community and are committed to celebrating them -  in our desire to ensure no one gets left behind.”

The festivities had already started with the borough’s first ever pre-Pride party taking place last Tuesday (2 July) at the Broadway theatre in Barking, which saw special guests join people from the local community to mark the beginning of Pride month.