Faversham’s first LGBT Pride celebration will take place this summer.

An all-day family garden party with live music, a barbecue, games and a rodeo bull is being planned for Saturday, June 23.

A party for over-18s will follow in the evening, featuring a DJ, bar and drag queen competition.

The day is the brainchild of David Wright, head of trading operations at West Faversham Community Centre, where the event will be held.

“The reason we’re setting this up is because there hasn’t been anything like this in Faversham before,” he said.

“We have people from here having to go to Canterbury for Pride, but we feel like we can celebrate the diversity of Faversham within the town.

“I think our main hope is that it spreads the message that Faversham is an all-inclusive town, and that we can celebrate all members of our community.”

Faversham Pride, which will be held two weeks after Canterbury Pride, will be the West Faversham Community Centre’s biggest event of the year.

Mr Wright hopes to make it an annual celebration which will be even bigger in years to come.

He said: “Our hope is that we can grow it and that with the community, we can build an event for the town and all its members.”

“So far the response has been positive, from everyone, from all sides of the community.

“We have not had anything negative at all, and people from the town and outside of the town have been asking how they can get involved.

“We have had a lot of people donate their time, from live music to drag acts.

“It’s just nice that everyone is getting behind this event and they are all from the local community, and are really excited to join and support it.”

Entry to Faversham Pride is free.

The garden party will run from 1 to 4pm and the evening party will run from 8pm to 1am. Visitors are asked to walk or use public transport.

Visit www.westfavershamca.org for more information.