WATCHET will hold its first Gay Pride event next month as a response to an alleged homophobic attack on two women on the town’s West Street beach.

Local residents are planning a massive family-friendly LBGT+ Pride beach party on the same beach on Saturday August 10 from 5pm to celebrate equality and diversity and create what is hoped will become a major annual event in the town.

“It’s time for abuse towards gay, bisexual and lesbian people to stop,” said Pete Stevenson, chairman of West Somerset Inter-Cultural Friendship Group, which is organising the event.

“We will have a great day – full of creative energy, friendship and colour. The support we have already received from local people has been fantastic.

“People will be encourage to celebrate the values of equality and diversity by wearing rainbow colours.”

The party, to which everyone is invited, will be a mix of live music, performance poetry, dancing, food and children’s games, plus speeches from union officials and representatives of the local NHS Trust.

It was triggered by an incident on June 22 when two women claimed they suffered verbal abuse on the beach and that one was hit by a stone. Police are investigating the alleged attack.

Since news of the beach party went online, there have been over 300 messages of support and more than 50 people were expected to attend a meeting in Watchet ‘s Phoenix Centre last night (Thursday) to finalise arrangements.

“We are in partnership with local councils and the beach owners to make sure everything is organised properly,” said Mr Stevenson, well known in the town as ‘Pete the Poet’.

“We have an amazing community spirit and the response we have had to the party shows just how alien what happened on the beach is to Watchet.

“Homophobia has no place in this town,” said Mr Stevenson, who teaches the values of equality and diversity in schools across Somerset and last year wrote and directed Watchet’s first pantomime.

At its meeting on Monday, Watchet Town Council will be asked to give general support to the Pride event under its equalities policy.

Comments on social media ranged from “Having our own Pride event in Watchet is a huge step forward” to “We must stamp our intolerance in all forms and come together as a community to support each other.”

A local resident wrote: “We will have a brilliant time at our Pride party to show how much we care for respect for all.

“The party will hopefully turn something awful into something fabulous.”