MANCHESTER will be painted pink over the coming weeks, as Europe's biggest gay festival gets underway.

The bank holiday carnival atmosphere will give way to the "queerupnorth" arts festival, which runs until September 16 and includes dance, music and theatre from around the world.

And budding Bolton newshounds are being invited to continue the fun by entering a competition by sponsors KLM to report on the famous Sydney Mardi Gras.

Winners will win a trip to cover the event for the gay website and further details are available on www.queerupnorth.com.