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| Crowds join carnival celebrations | Crowds join carnival celebrations |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of revellers have taken to the streets of west London for the Notting Hill Carnival. | Hundreds of thousands of revellers have taken to the streets of west London for the Notting Hill Carnival. |
| Giant Popeye puppets and chocolate-smeared dancers joined scores of costumed masquerade artists to perform along the three-and-a-half mile route. | Giant Popeye puppets and chocolate-smeared dancers joined scores of costumed masquerade artists to perform along the three-and-a-half mile route. |
| About 1.5 million people are expected to attend the carnival, billed as Europe's biggest street party, over the next two days. | About 1.5 million people are expected to attend the carnival, billed as Europe's biggest street party, over the next two days. |
| The carnival's main procession takes place on Monday. | The carnival's main procession takes place on Monday. |
| Sarah Manners, 29, from Brixton in south London, took part in the parade with her seven-year-old daughter, Shamira. | Sarah Manners, 29, from Brixton in south London, took part in the parade with her seven-year-old daughter, Shamira. |
| If it wasn't for the weather, it would feel a little like Rio Marco Figeuredo | If it wasn't for the weather, it would feel a little like Rio Marco Figeuredo |
| Ms Manners said: "There has been a little bit of drizzle but the vibe here as is as good as ever. | Ms Manners said: "There has been a little bit of drizzle but the vibe here as is as good as ever. |
| "It's nice to be here with my daughter for the first time." | "It's nice to be here with my daughter for the first time." |
| Marco Figeuredo, 32, travelled to the festival from Lisbon, Portugal. | Marco Figeuredo, 32, travelled to the festival from Lisbon, Portugal. |
| He said: "I expected there to be even more people but the music has been excellent. | He said: "I expected there to be even more people but the music has been excellent. |
| "If it wasn't for the weather, it would feel a little like Rio." | "If it wasn't for the weather, it would feel a little like Rio." |
| Revellers are enjoying the sound of steel-pan bands, as well as almost 40 static sound systems playing music including traditional soca or calypso, reggae, hip-hop jazz, soul, house and garage. | Revellers are enjoying the sound of steel-pan bands, as well as almost 40 static sound systems playing music including traditional soca or calypso, reggae, hip-hop jazz, soul, house and garage. |
| 'Good feast' | 'Good feast' |
| There are also hundreds of exotic food and drink stalls. | There are also hundreds of exotic food and drink stalls. |
| The carnival is billed as Europe's biggest street party | |
| Ruth Thomsett, one of the carnival's organisers, said: "You've got the food, you've got food from all the islands, as well as African and Chinese food, Greek and Moroccan. | Ruth Thomsett, one of the carnival's organisers, said: "You've got the food, you've got food from all the islands, as well as African and Chinese food, Greek and Moroccan. |
| "What a chance to come and have a really good feast." | "What a chance to come and have a really good feast." |
| About 100 monitors, working for local councils and police, were present to ensure music did not exceed noise levels of 135 decibels. | |
| Police, who had made several arrests in the week building up to the event, said celebrations had got off to a peaceful start, with 21 people arrested at the carnival so far. | Police, who had made several arrests in the week building up to the event, said celebrations had got off to a peaceful start, with 21 people arrested at the carnival so far. |
| Last year 108 arrests were made on the first day. | |
| Chris Boothman, the carnival chief, said security was at its best after the event secured its biggest budget in years thanks to a new sponsorship deal. | |
| The carnival is a celebration of Caribbean culture | The carnival is a celebration of Caribbean culture |
| "We have worked really hard with police and we are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be okay. | "We have worked really hard with police and we are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be okay. |
| "We have had more money this year than we have in the last five. I think the result today is a good one." | "We have had more money this year than we have in the last five. I think the result today is a good one." |
| Thousands of Metropolitan Police officers are on duty at the carnival. | Thousands of Metropolitan Police officers are on duty at the carnival. |
| Officers have also been carrying out regular stop-and-search operations in an effort to disrupt gang activity. | Officers have also been carrying out regular stop-and-search operations in an effort to disrupt gang activity. |
| This year, the procession began at the earlier time of 0900 BST with a children's parade. Sunday's and Monday's celebrations are due to end at 1830 BST. | This year, the procession began at the earlier time of 0900 BST with a children's parade. Sunday's and Monday's celebrations are due to end at 1830 BST. |
| The latest figures show that the carnival generates more than £90m for London's economy and supports the equivalent of 3,000 jobs. | The latest figures show that the carnival generates more than £90m for London's economy and supports the equivalent of 3,000 jobs. |
| Are you going to the Notting Hill Carnival? Send us your pictures and videos. | Are you going to the Notting Hill Carnival? Send us your pictures and videos. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |