KIRKLEES Council has apologised for inadvertently flying the rainbow flag upside down during its annual Pride event last weekend.

The authority tweeted on Saturday that it was flying the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) pride flag above Huddersfield Town Hall in support of Huddersfield Pride - but the accompanying picture showed the flag being flown upside down.

The council later apologised for its mistake - but said it would not be apologising to people who had complained that the flag was being flown at all.

In a tweet yesterday the authority said: “We apologise and we meant no offence.”

But it added: “To everyone that has complained that we flew the LGBT flag, we offer no apology whatsoever, we’re proud to be diverse and inclusive.”

Hundreds of people visited the town centre for Huddersfield Pride 2019, with the Lawrence Batley Theatre providing a focus and a hub for music, dance and comedy.

The event was organised by the University of Huddersfield Students’ Union working in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ community both on and off  campus and with organisations from across the borough.

The council confirmed it had received complaints about its decision to fly the flag above Huddersfield Town Hall.

Some residents made their feelings known on Facebook.

One wrote: “Have they got a flag for straight people?”

Another said: “I’ve not got a bad word for gay people, live and let live, but why need a flag?”

Tom Bowden, community officer at the university student union and the main organiser of Huddersfield Pride, said it was “human error” that the Pride flag was flown upside down.

He added: “We completely back the council for not compromising over flying the flag.

“The fact that people are complaining emphasises why we need to have a Pride event and that people do need educating as to what Pride is all about.”

Following on from the now defunct Pink Picnic and a previous Pride event in 2016, Huddersfield Pride was the first such event run by the Student Union in collaboration with the council and the town centre.

Among the partners participating were the Lawrence Batley Theatre, the University of Huddersfield, the council, the library and various independent businesses.

There were also fringe elements in the run-up to the main event.

It raised money for the Brunswick Centre on St Andrew’s Road, an LGBT-focused sexual health charity.

Mr Bowden said plans are already being made for Pride 2020. And there are hopes that the event will boast a parade.

“There wasn’t enough time this year to do a parade and an event.

“Next year we are going to be bigger and better.

“A parade is definitely on the cards. Getting more and more people involved is the way that that’s going to happen.”