THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to Liverpool over the weekend to attend the ninth annual pride celebrations in memory of murdered teenager Michael Causer.

The colourful two-day LGBT+ event will bring people together from all walks of life to celebrate the annual Pride March - always a highlight of the free festival - which will take place on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29 with the theme #AllTogetherNow.

The Pride March will take place on Saturday, July 28 and the formal muster will be held at St George’s Plateau at 10.30am.

There will be entertainment and speeches from 11am, and the march itself will start promptly at noon.

The new route will take marchers past St George’s Hall and through Queen Square, then along Whitechapel and right up Lord Street towards Derby Square. Making its way down Castle Street to the Town Hall, it will then go along Dale Street with another right turn in to North John Street before it branches off left along Victoria Street.

Marchers will then make their way up Stanley Street and along Moorfields, and will end in Tithebarn Street, the new location for Liverpool Pride this year.

Andi Herring, Co-chair of Liverpool Pride, said: “The March is one of the most hotly-anticipated parts of Pride, with thousands of people taking part, and I know this year will be no exception.

“We’re really excited about the location for the 2018 festival, and the new route, which finishes close to the festival stages, will take marchers on a winding journey through the heart of historic Liverpool, along with the city’s vibrant Gay Quarter.”

Mayor Joe Anderson said: "Pride is one of the highlights of Liverpool's calendar of events, and the annual Pride March is a wonderful demonstration of diversity and equality.

"I am proud to support this year's March which will fill our streets with a brilliant rainbow of colour as it celebrates the 2018 Pride theme #AllTogetherNow."

Individuals and groups are being urged to register to take part in the March at liverpoolpride.co.uk/march-registration

Liverpool Pride Trustee Joan Burnett said: “We would love to see banners, flags, puppets, costumes and lanterns that represent what #AllTogetherNow means to you and or your group.

“Michael Causer’s favourite flower was the daisy – maybe paint a daisy on your face or find another way to recognise his emblem?

“Are you a sports or other kind of team? If you have an arch-rival, maybe think about contacting them and asking to March together! Wear your team colours, uniforms or other identifiers of what is most important to you.”