Up to 5,000 people have taken part in a high-profile gay pride event in Riga, the capital of Latvia, a former Soviet country.

Participants in colourful outfits waved rainbow flags and standards from Spain, Britain, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia, among others, as they marched and danced to loud music.

The event is aimed at raising awareness of gay, bisexual and transgender rights in eastern Europe, where there is marked intolerance of LGBT groups. A 2013 Russian law bans promotion of same-sex gay values to minors.

Police said three people were arrested after a counter demonstration.