TEMPERS flared as protesters clashed with people taking part in Derby's gay pride parade.

Derby Pride, which celebrates the culture of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population, began with a procession through the city centre.

But, on St Peter's Street, a group of 14 protesters claiming to be from the Islamic community waved placards bearing anti-homosexual messages.

Hundreds of onlookers shouted out support for the Pride event, largely drowning out the demonstrators.

And people taking part in the parade turned their backs on the protest or blew whistles and shouted "out and proud".

There were no arrests but police officers moved the crowds away from the demonstrators.

One grandmother who had been watching the parade broke down in tears.

She said: "My 18-year-old grandson is gay. He is who he is. Who are these people to tell others how to live? It's totally wrong – I'm glad they were drowned out."

And shopper Lucy Brolin, 39, from Littleover, said: "This is a free country. Why should gay people be subjected to abuse?"

The parade got under way in Forester Street at 11am on Saturday and finished at Bass Recreation Ground, with stalls, food and drink tents and live entertainment.

The event, now in its third year, was organised by a new committee who renamed it Derby Pride, instead of Derby Goes Pink.

Its theme was Pride not Prejudice.

Shaun Peaty, vice-chairman of the event, said he was grateful for the public support.

He said: "We've always been quite lucky – we do get a lot of support from the community.

"It is a community event for everyone to come along to. Everyone had a good time. I'm really pleased with how it's gone."

Many wore costumes, including Tom Oxley, who dressed as pantomime dame Widow Twankey.

The 26-year-old said: "It's very exciting, I'm loving it!

"At the end of the day we are who we are and today we can show people that we're not abnormal. Whether we're fat, thin, gay, lesbian or bisexual – it's irrelevant."

Derbyshire Police's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender association and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service took part in the parade.

A police spokeswoman said that the views of the protesters did not represent the Muslim majority.

"The Pride event is a family fun day and has been a great day," she said. "There was a small group of about 14 people who are a minority that chose to counter demonstrate.

"They do not represent the 14,000 majority Muslim community living in Derby. The mainstream community did not support the counter demonstration and have no issues or concerns about the parade or the wider gay community."

Gulfraz Nawaz, secretary of Derby's Jamia Mosque, said last night: "The views of the protesters do not represent all the Muslim community – they are a very small minority and they give the majority of Muslims a bad name.

"I think we should live and let live."

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