It's official: Gloucester is a diverse, safe and welcoming place to spend a night out.

For the second year running the city has been awarded a Purple Flag national safety award which recognises places that have a safe and thriving night-time economy.

Like the blue flags for beaches and green flags for parks, the process of awarding a purple flag follows a rigorous accreditation process.

Entrants are judged on four criteria: Wellbeing, movement, appeal and place.

Wellbeing judges that destinations are safe and welcoming, movement gauges how easy it is to get home safely as well as move around the centre with ease.

Appeal takes into account how vibrant the choice of leisure and entertainment offerings are for all ages while place highlights the overlap between daytime and night-time offerings.

City council officers, the police, Amey, Gloucester LVA and the Gloucester BID all worked on Gloucester's application for which the city will have to reapply for next year.

Councillor Jennie Watkins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that we've been awarded the Purple Flag for the second year.

"A lot of work has gone into this by a wide range of partners across the city all of which are fully committed to making Gloucester a great place to visit both day and night."

Purple Flag status is also held by Cheltenham and Bristol.