CITY leaders will urge businesses to stump up some of the cost of this year’s Liverpool Pride festival.

The event, which had its first outing last year, will see £10,000 invested by the council, but it expects some of the pubs and clubs around the gay quarter which stand to profit during the course of the weekend to also contribute.

More than 21,000 people attended last summer’s hugely successful event and it is estimated they spent around £500,000 between them.

But the council warned it was now up to city firms to follow the council’s lead.

Cllr Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for community safety, said: “I am confident we can build on last year’s success and attract even more people to celebrate LGBT culture.

“This not only supports our city’s bars, restaurants and hotels and boosts businesses, but it also sends out a clear message of solidarity and commitment to a community which sadly feel they are on the margins.”

Liverpool Pride chairman Tommy McIlravey said: “Last year we had a fantastic event and so many people from every walk of life – young and old, gay and straight – came together to celebrate the thriving LGBT culture in Merseyside.

“I know even more people are itching to join in this year.”

Liberal Cllr Steve Radford, who chairs the Liverpool Gay Business Association, added: “I have said it would not be economically reasonable to expect the local authority to bear the brunt of the costs without the gay community contributing as well.”