GRAHAM NORTON - GAY PRIDE GOES AHEAD

GAY PRIDE GOES AHEAD

The annual Gay Pride festival is going ahead in central London today after meetings between organisers and the police in the wake of yesterday's car bomb scares.

Pride London, the charity which oversees the event, says on its website that extra security measures have been put in place as a result of a "number of meetings" with the Metropolitan police and other security professionals yesterday.

The organisation's chief executive Jason Pollock told the BBC that the decision had subsequently been taken to maintain the planned route of the Gay Pride parade, which is expected to see up to half a million people make a colourful journey between Baker Street and Trafalgar Square.

Police patrols have been stepped up in central London after explosive devices were found in two cars in the city's West End district yesterday.

But fears of a possible al-Qaida terror plot are unlikely to dampen the spirits of those gathered for London's annual gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender cultural festival.

Today's parade, which will start at 13:00 BST, will be followed by a programme of entertainment in Trafalgar Square.

Chat show host Graham Norton and actor John Barrowman will be among those introducing performances by several stars including former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes and 1980s pop star Jimmy Somerville.

Alongside a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Joseph and other acts, London mayor Ken Livingstone will be among guest speakers at the event.