RAINBOWS are set to descend on the Town Gardens this weekend as hundreds are expected to turn out and celebrate Swindon and Wiltshire Pride.

It is the seventh year that Pride has been held in the town by Swindon’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Saturday’scolourful events will kick off at 10.45am with a parade leaving from the Town Gardens.

From noon there will be live music on the Stephen G Sloan Stage and on the ThamesWater- sponsored Main Stage with headlining artists including X-Factor runner-up Marcus Collins, drag act Shona Shuffles, DJ Burnout, and threesome Barely Over The Legal Limit, as well as Charlie-Anne, Jamie Hawkins, Jimmy Moore and Eddie T.

This year there are also more zones for visitors to browse through, with demonstrations from GW Dance Academy and the Supermarine Ladies RFC in the Sports Zone and musical bumps and Giant Games in the Fabulous Family Zone.

There will also be an exhibition from No Added Sugar in the Arts Zone as well as representatives from Swindon Council, Out Of The Can LGBT Group, Rethink and Foggy’s Invisible Illness Support, among many others in the Public Sector and Community zones.

There will also be a chance to browse a number of trade stalls in the shopping zone, and plenty to eat and drink.

Jo Sharpe, the chairman of this year’s Pride committee, said: “This makes me feel proud of what has been achieved over the years, this has not been done alone with many people involved in the committee and from the community.

“Pride events give everyone the opportunity to come together with one common goal to support equality and celebrate our lives.

“This year has seen further positive changes with The Marriage Bill being introduced, but also negative, with the continuing appalling treatment of many LGBT people at home and around the world, so we are making a stand for all those that are suffering and to remember them.”

As well as all the main events in the Town Gardens the Mailcoach in the town centre will be celebrating the day with owners Marc and Martin welcoming Katrina And The Waves – who sang Walking On Sunshine – to the venue.

Marc said: “Our big surprise for the night is our very own headliner Pop Sensation Katrina &And The Waves.

“We have worked hard to booked Katrina and we are so grateful to be able to book her, we are all very excited and can’t wait for it all to start, everyone is welcome.

“Katrina had many top 80s hits especially the famous Walking On Sunshine.

“The track has recently been used for this year’s Hollywood film of the same name.

Katrina also had luck with a Eurovision hit Love Shine A Light.

“We had such a fantastic turn out last year by having a street party with an outside stage, we simply had to do it bigger and better this year.

“We have some great acts and music to party on throughout the day and evening including local acts such as Barley Legal, Mick O’Toole, the Fabulous Miss Bridy and Jase that helped raise over £4000 with the help of the community.”