ORGANISERS of a major festival have called for more businesses to back their event - and say a lack of support could jeopardise its future. This year's Southampton Pride is expected to bring up to 15,000 people to the city - up from 10,000 last year.

But organisers say they have seen a drop in the number of businesses willing to support the event - despite estimates that last year Pride brought £350,000 to the city.

Now committee member Danny Langrish-Beard has said they need just ten more companies to secure the event's future.

He said:"We are finding it difficult this year. We are having a lot less business involvement.

"We are about ten companies down from last year. If we had ten more companies becoming partners, it would secure the future of Pride.

"We are really struggling. Companies seem to think they are going to be busy anyway so they don't need to invest the money.

"But if it's an uphill struggle every year we won't be able to do it.

"We want everybody to be involved in the experience. We have shown that we can put on a massive event where everybody is welcome, and that supports Southampton as a whole - and then more people are likely to spend money in the shops." Mr Langrish-Beard added: "It's not a money-making scheme - we are all volunteers."

As reported the event more than doubled in size in just two years, from 3,000 visitors in the first year to 10,000 in 2018. This year's event takes place on August 25 in Guildhall Square with a bigger kids' area including animals from Long Down Dairy Farm. Top boy band Union J are set to headline while the Cheeky Girls will also take to the stage.

This year Cunard have stepped up to the mark as the event's main sponsor for the second year running. P&O are also sponsoring the one day festival.

Partners already committed are Go!Southampton, The Edge and Box Bar, Radio Taxis, Solent University, Southern Health NHS, The Eat Good Club and Unison.

The event's sports partner is Southampton Football Club and businesses offering support are Red Bull, The Stage Door, The London Hotel, South Western Railway, Costa, The Spitfire, and Barhead Travel.