Nuns in wheelchairs, drag queens, and families of all ages united on Saturday for the fourth Oxford Pride event.

In scorching sunshine, Oxford's annual gay and lesbian festival in Oxpens Field attracted thousands of people.

During the day and into the evening, more than a dozen singing acts took to the stage to perform everything from Big Spender to Summer Lovin'.

There was also the popular tug-of-war event between the girls and the boys and a variety of races, including chocolate egg and spoon racing in the annual sports day.

Popstar Nicki French, who had worldwide success with her cover of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart, entertained the crowds for free as did X-Factor finalist Shania.

The festival was promoted as a family-orientated day, and youngsters had the chance to play on fairground rides, including a bouncy castle and a helter skelter.

Chairman Rob Jordan said he was delighted to see so many families come out to enjoy the event.

He said: "It is difficult to have an event like this and not stand out and stand alone.

"But it is a celebration of our community and the Oxford community as a whole, so it is important for us to have not just gays and lesbians, but also mums, dads, children, grannies, everyone.

"I think it is great, there shouldn't be a divide and this shows there isn't.

"It is to show we are not different, but just the same as everybody else."

A number of stalls were also up and running at the festival including the Aids charity THT and Friendly Oxford Gay Girls a local organisation for lesbians.

Spokesman for the group Lyn Moody said: "Hopefully we will introduce people to gay society and show them that we are normal people and don't have two heads.

"It is definitely more family orientated this year, which is good. If people learn to understand and accept from a young age then it is going to get rid of the prejudice."

All the political parties had stalls at the event and Lord Mayor Jim Campbell attended.

He said: "I would not have missed it for anything. I was glad I was able to make it I think it is a very important event.

"At times it seems like Oxford just pays lip service to a diverse community, but it is getting better and events like this make the city such an exciting place.

"Looking to next year, when we have 12 months of festivals, this is going to be a very important event."