PLANS are well underway for next year’s Basildon Pride with organisers expecting the event to be bigger and better than ever before.

The event will return on Saturday, September 5 next year.

This year’s first official event drew crowds of more than 4,000 to the parade through the town centre and festival at Gloucester Park, Basildon.

David Burton-Sampson, founder of Basildon Pride and chairman of the event organising committee, said the event must become more than just a one-day celebration.

He said: “It is in the very early stages and in November we will be holding a meeting and looking for people to put themselves forward for different committee roles including chairman and secretary.

“Then we will be starting to firm up plans for next year’s event.

“We definitely intent to make it bigger and better than this year.

“We will be building up to it throughout the year with a great range of activities to support members of the LGBT+ community and our allies.

“I have always been passionate about ensuring it’s about creating a legacy for the event.

“It’s very important that this just becomes part of the fabric of what we do here in Basildon.”

The event chairman said this year’s pride cost in the region of £25,000 and support and donations means so much.

He said the organisers could not get Basildon Pride off the ground without the incredible support.

Mr Burton-Sampson said the reaction so far to next year’s event has been amazing.

He said: “We announced the event date on social media and so many people have shown so much interest.

“It just shows there’s an appetite for the event in the borough.

“We’ve had messages and interest from stall holders, volunteers and performers - it’s going to be exciting.”

This year’s event held on September 14 saw hundreds of revellers dressed in all kinds of colour as the parade made its way through town, having set off from outside Toys‘R’Us.

The parade went along East Walk, through St Martin’s Square and across Broadmayne before ending in Gloucester Park.