Dover was awash with colour as the town celebrated its fourth Pride festival today.

Organisers set out with the aim to "POP with pride", with a Dover Pride festival themed around pop art and pop music to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Celebrations began with a march from the Riverside Community centre to the Roman lawn, and alongside the marchers were the Mayor of Dover Cllr Gordon Cowan and Cllr Trevor Bartlett leader of the council.

Hundreds then flocked to enjoy the celebrations at the Roman lawn main stage and Pride Café.

Drag queen hosts of the day included Miss Di Vour and Drag SOS stars Miss Lilli Berlin and Poppy Love.

Emma Sikora, art director and co chair of Dover Pride, said “It was fabulous and wonderful, darling. I’ll tell you what, every time I spoke to a young person I asked 'are you from Dover?'

"They said yes. 'Have you enjoyed it?' I’d say and they’d say 'Yes this is amazing I have never experienced pride like this in such a small town'."

Emma added: “It was special to see some really young queer people taking part.”

Lisa Oulton founder and director of Future Foundry, who are Dover Pride partners and sponsors, said: “It was incredible to see how inter generational it was. People of all ages turned up and it was so diverse it was amazing!”

Dover Mayor Cllr Gordon Cowan said “We are one community” and that the town was honoured to support Pride, while the Cllr Trevor Bartlett - attending his first ever Pride festival - said it was an “amazing event”.

Frazer Doyle co-chair and director of Dover Pride said he was thrilled at the event.

"There was a lot of happy tears," he added. "We were able to have a big stage and it was the biggest pride we have ever had with over 2,000 people at our main stage and La Salle Verte, the Pride Café, across the day. It was one for the books. An incredible turn out!

There was lots of home grown and regional talent on show, including Eden Hunter from London who blew everyone away with her cover of Lady Gaga's 'Edge of Glory.'

Eden said: “Dover pride was absolutely amazing. One of the most wonderful experiences. I’ve done a few prides and this one was super special. People are here as a celebration but also as a protest being visible as an LGBTQ+ community and allies in Dover. Pride is for everybody!”

Amrick Channa from the X factor and The Voice also performed, and added: “I loved it. I’ve never been to Dover before, and what a crowd and beautiful town”

The pride festival is aimed at the whole community, to raise awareness, support, and respect, while also offering a chance to reflect on the history and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.

To donate to Dover Pride, visit www.gofundme.com/f/dover-pride-2022, and find out more at www.doverpride.com.