A regional newspaper offered front page support to its patch’s LGBT festival after its editor took inspiration from another title’s coverage of a similar event.

The Inverness Courier ran the colourful splash in support of Proud Ness, which took place at the weekend.

David Bourn, editorial director at Courier owner Scottish Provincial Press, revealed he had been inspired by a previous front page run by the Fife Free Press about its own patch’s Pride celebrations.

The Courier ran the front page, complete with a rainbow headline, on Friday ahead of last weekend’s event.

David told HTFP: “As a judge at the Scottish Press Awards a couple of years ago I remembered a striking front page done by the Fife Free Press which I asked our graphic artist to base our page on. We also had a range of content inside reflecting the views of the LBGT community and a supportive leader column.

“We also changed our logo online and on social media and the response was hugely positive.

“And this year’s even was an even greater success with 10,000 people providing the perfect antidote to bigotry.”

Last year a 700-signature petition had called for the parade to be banned on religious and moral grounds, but the event went ahead and was held for the second time over the weekend.

David added: “This was something we wanted to do as last year’s inaugural Proud Ness march hit national headlines for all the wrong reasons after a group of religious zealots tried to stop it.

“It doesn’t get more traditional than the Inverness Highland Games which, for more than a century has been a celebration of Highland culture.

“So when the organisers of this year’s event decided to incorporate the Proud Ness march it wasn’t just a nice gesture but a hugely symbolic moment.

“The Inverness Courier is probably seen as part of the local establishment so we thought it was important that we showed or support and helped signal that everyone is welcome in the Highlands.”