THE borough's first Pride festival was officially launched last Tuesday as the winner of the competition to design its emblem was unveiled in a special event at Leigh Town Hall.

Rebecca Bryan from St John Rigby College in Orrell produced the winning design in a competition all schools and colleges in the borough were invited to enter.

Her Pride festival emblem design will be used on all the publicity in the run up to the festival in Wigan town centre on August 13.

Leigh band The Lottery Winners will headline the event.

Cllr Jo Platt, portfolio holder for children and young people at Wigan Council, said: "I am so proud of our young people who have come forward and used their voice to engage with the authority and a wide range of partners to hold Wigan's very first event to celebrate LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) culture and pride.

“The support from partner organisations and the community has been tremendous and can only see this event going from strength to strength.”

Jess Eastoe, co-founder of BYou+, an adult support and engagement group for LGBTQ people, said: “The collaborative work shown by everyone involved has demonstrated a clear necessity to respect and encourage equality and diversity."