Suspect package blown up on seafront during Brighton Pride

Specialist officers carried out a controlled explosion on the “suspect package”, discovered on Brighton seafront shortly before the Brighton and Hove Pride parade was due to start.

It is still not clear if the package is unsafe but the parade has now begun along the new route.

Quick response: An expert explosives team (left) inspected the item on Brighton seafront but Sussex Police said the incident was now being treated as a hoax. A cordon has been put in place and expert explosives officers are on route.

‘There is no immediate risk to the public and we ask that you respect the cordons in place and the officers dealing with the incident.’.

The parade has reached St Peter’s Church area and is continuing on its route to Preston Park, said a spokesman at 3.25pm.

An investigation has been launched to find the person responsible for a bomb scare which delayed the start of Brighton Pride’s annual parade.

The two-day festival is widely acknowledged as the country’s most popular LGBT (lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender) Pride event.

The suspect package has been detonated in a controlled explosion as part of “normal police procedure”.

“Despite the delay, we hope everyone will enjoy the Pride events across the city”.

Chief Supt Kemp said: “This is one of the biggest policing operations we manage, and it could not happen without the support and hard work from all those involved and the thousands of people who travel from far and wide to attend it and help make it an unbelievable and fun event”.