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Crowds celebrate annual carnival Crowds celebrate annual carnival
(40 minutes later)
Hundreds of thousands of revellers are dancing through west London on the final day of the Notting Hill Carnival. Hundreds of thousands of revellers have danced through west London on the final day of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Elaborately dressed masquerade artists are making their way through the 3.5-mile route in west London, alongside steel-pan bands and food stalls. Elaborately dressed masquerade artists made their way through the 3.5-mile route in west London, alongside steel-pan bands and food stalls.
More than 200,000 people attended the carnival on Sunday for the children's parade. This number is predicted to increase three-fold on Monday. More than 200,000 people attended the carnival on Sunday for the children's parade. Figures were expected to be at least double that on Monday.
The event is billed Europe's biggest street party. Police said partygoers were behaving themselves and arrests were down.
Miss Dynamite
Alongside the steel-pan bands, revellers were able to to enjoy music including traditional soca or calypso, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, soul, house and garage coming from almost 40 static sound systems.
Nobody's holding back it's pretty lively, everyone's enjoying the sun and having a cracking time Carnival reveller Gina Lyons Carnival brings people together
Gina Lyons, 24, from Brisbane, Australia, said: "Nobody's holding back it's pretty lively, everyone's enjoying the sun and having a cracking time."
But 55-year-old Carlton Johnson, an engineer from Bermondsey, south London, said this year's carnival had not lived up to expectations.
He said: "It's not as good as before, there's doesn't seem to be as many floats coming through, but you can see everyone getting along and I'm sure it will improve."
By 1600 BST on Monday police said there had been 83 arrests so far, compared with about 123 by that time last year.
On Sunday, police held 64 people mainly for drugs offences. Last year there were 108 arrests on the opening day.
Stop and search techniques were also used to root out trouble before it started.
A surprise appearance by Miss Dynamite at the carnival on Monday had to be cancelled because of crowd safety fears.A surprise appearance by Miss Dynamite at the carnival on Monday had to be cancelled because of crowd safety fears.
"It's great that carnival can attract top talent," said a Kensington and Chelsea council spokesman, but we need more time to make sure that such an event can pass off safely."It's great that carnival can attract top talent," said a Kensington and Chelsea council spokesman, but we need more time to make sure that such an event can pass off safely.
It's amazing - every year it seems to be getting better and better Carnival reveller Carnival brings people together
Alongside the steel-pan bands, revellers are able to to enjoy music including traditional soca or calypso, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, soul, house and garage coming from almost 40 static sound systems.
One carnival-goer said: "It's amazing. Every year it seems to be getting better and better. We're just loving it at the moment."
Michael Williams, one of the directors of London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said the participants have changed over the years.Michael Williams, one of the directors of London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said the participants have changed over the years.
"Carnival is very Caribbean in its origin and still in its organisation. The participants are now not majority Caribbean by any stretch of the imagination... it looks like London.""Carnival is very Caribbean in its origin and still in its organisation. The participants are now not majority Caribbean by any stretch of the imagination... it looks like London."
The carnival is billed as Europe's biggest street partyThe carnival is billed as Europe's biggest street party
Organisers estimate that 150,000 feather plumes, 30 million sequins, and 100 litres of decorative body paint will have been be used by artists at the carnival over the two days. Organisers estimated that 150,000 feather plumes, 30 million sequins, and 100 litres of decorative body paint would have been be used by performers over the two days.
More rigorous noise monitoring is taking place at the carnival this year, with around 100 officials, working for local councils and the police, ensuring music does not exceed noise levels of 135 decibels. More rigorous noise monitoring took place at the carnival this year on both days with 100 officials, working for local councils and the police, ensuring music did not exceed noise levels of 135 decibels.
Levels have reached 140 decibels in previous years.Levels have reached 140 decibels in previous years.
According to a spokeswoman for the festival, more than five tons of chicken was being sold on Sunday and Monday. Thousands of Metropolitan Police officers were on duty at the carnival.
Thousands of Metropolitan Police officers are on duty at the carnival. Seven suspected pit-bull terrier-type dogs were seized by police working for the Dangerous Dogs Unit.
Seven suspected pit-bull terrier-type dogs have been seized by police working for the Dangerous Dogs Unit. The event is billed Europe's biggest street party.
By 1600 BST on Monday there have been been 80 arrests so far.
On Sunday, police held 64 people mainly for drugs offences. Last year there were 108 arrests on the opening day.
This year, the processions began an hour earlier - at 0900 BST - coming to a close at 1830 BST.
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.
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