EUROPE'S biggest gay and lesbian festival is to be held in Manchester this summer, it was announced today.

EuroPride will be held in the northern city renowned for the nightlife at its gay village and the successful television series Queer As Folk.

The event will incorporate the traditional three-day Mardi Gras festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which attracted 150,000 people last year.

A council spokesman said this was "wonderful news for Manchester."

He said: "It is estimated that over 125,000 extra people will visit the city and with an overnight visitor count of many thousands, the event will have a huge economic impact on the city."

The festival will comprise an array of activities and events, including culture, sport and education.