Thousands line the streets of Manchester for Pride event

Thousands of people, including cast members from Coronation Street, have paraded through the streets of Manchester to celebrate this year’s Pride event.

This year’s festival – the 25th the city has hosted – celebrates Manchester’s gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Around 3,000 people took part in today’s parade, and thousands more lined the streets to enjoy the festivities.

The theme of the 2017 festival is The Graduation Parade, which highlights the importance of education as a means of tackling inequality.

Among the colourful floats was one by the Coronation Street cast, including Brooke Vincent and Sair Khan.

The cast of Coronation Street, including Brooke Vincent and Sair Khan, celebrate Manchester Pride underneath a sign bearing the name of the soap’s fictional town

Actors from Coronation Street celebrate the soap's northern roots and the city's sexual diversity at Manchester Pride

Actors from Coronation Street celebrate the soap’s northern roots and the city’s sexual diversity at Manchester Pride

Paraders line the streets of Manchester city centre as this year's Pride festival gets underway under cloudy skies

Paraders line the streets of Manchester city centre as this year’s Pride festival gets underway under cloudy skies

Police have come out in force to support Manchester Pride

Festivalgoers are lining the street for Manchester Pride

Police have showed out in force to enjoy Manchester Pride as festivalgoers line the street to celebrate their sexuality

Greater Manchester Police have joined marchers across the city centre as Pride festival gets underway in the north

Greater Manchester Police have joined marchers across the city centre as Pride festival gets underway in the north

The cast of Coronation Street gave their town a 50s American makeover by dressing as cheerleaders from 'Weatherfield High' as they joined Manchester Pride marchers 

The cast of Coronation Street gave their town a 50s American makeover by dressing as cheerleaders from ‘Weatherfield High’ as they joined Manchester Pride marchers 

Manchester Pride is celebrating the city's sexual minorities this weekend as rainbow flags are flown across the centre

Manchester Pride is celebrating the city’s sexual minorities this weekend as rainbow flags are flown across the centre

Rainbow hats were donned in Manchester as marchers celebrated Pride in parades flanked by cars and streets lined with onlookers

Rainbow hats were donned in Manchester as marchers celebrated Pride in parades flanked by cars and streets lined with onlookers

It's not just police who have turned out to celebrate Pride, as their horses are given a festival makeover in Manchester

It’s not just police who have turned out to celebrate Pride, as their horses are given a festival makeover in Manchester

Saara Aalto performs at Manchester Pride

Left, Saara Aalto performs at this year’s Manchester Pride and, right, Pixie Lott performs at the celebration of LGBT+ people

Melanie C, known to many from her time as Sporty Spice, in the Spice Girls, the pop group that made her name in the nineties

Melanie C, known to many from her time as Sporty Spice, in the Spice Girls, the pop group that made her name in the nineties

People of all ages have come to Manchester's Pride festival, with some flying the city's worker bee symbol in the street

People of all ages have come to Manchester’s Pride festival, with some flying the city’s worker bee symbol in the street

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