Defiant about potential fines after police declared a ban, organisers and volunteers are working to ensure Saturday's Budapest Pride march is the largest Hungary has ever seen.

"This legal wrangling only made many feel compelled to express their solidarity," 25-year-old engineering student Csanad Sebesy told AFP.

"Now it is more noble to attend," he added.

Sebesy is one of the record number of people -- more than 250 -- organisers said have applied to help at the parade despite the threat of penalties.

He volunteered last year too, but said the preparatory training this time focussed more on legal issues.

"I really liked that because there were concerns about the event existing in a legal grey area."

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced in February that he intended to ban the Pride celebration.

Within weeks, the government had codified into law and the constitution provisions designed to prohibit the annual march.

Those changes -- condemned by the European Union and rights groups -- advance the years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights in the central European........

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