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| Thousands attend Notting Hill Carnival in west London | Thousands attend Notting Hill Carnival in west London |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of people have attended the first day of Europe's biggest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival. | Hundreds of thousands of people have attended the first day of Europe's biggest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival. |
| The two-day event in west London started with children's day and featured Caribbean culture, food, music and dance. | The two-day event in west London started with children's day and featured Caribbean culture, food, music and dance. |
| Giant floats and dancers wearing colourful costumes made their way along the procession route from 10:00 BST. | Giant floats and dancers wearing colourful costumes made their way along the procession route from 10:00 BST. |
| About one million people are expected at the event over Sunday and Monday. | About one million people are expected at the event over Sunday and Monday. |
| Organisers say this year is part of the build-up to the event's 50th anniversary. | Organisers say this year is part of the build-up to the event's 50th anniversary. |
| Are you at the Notting Hill Carnival? Please send your pictures and comments to londonnews@bbc.co.uk | Are you at the Notting Hill Carnival? Please send your pictures and comments to londonnews@bbc.co.uk |
| About 6,000 police officers are in attendance and the Met Police said they had arrested 63 people for offences including assault, criminal damage, drugs and theft. | |
| Ch Supt Robyn Williams said the force's priority was to "facilitate a safe and vibrant carnival". | Ch Supt Robyn Williams said the force's priority was to "facilitate a safe and vibrant carnival". |
| "Carnival very much presents us with two extremes; those who want to enjoy the sound systems, cuisine and have a good time and those who use it as an opportunity to commit crime," she said. | "Carnival very much presents us with two extremes; those who want to enjoy the sound systems, cuisine and have a good time and those who use it as an opportunity to commit crime," she said. |
| Prior to the main carnival, the J'ouvert event from 06:00 BST opened proceedings with a procession and a paint fight. | Prior to the main carnival, the J'ouvert event from 06:00 BST opened proceedings with a procession and a paint fight. |
| During the parade, the Chocolate Nation Mas float was followed by hundreds of people throwing liquid chocolate over themselves and the public as they danced through the streets. | During the parade, the Chocolate Nation Mas float was followed by hundreds of people throwing liquid chocolate over themselves and the public as they danced through the streets. |
| Michelle Johns, 37, from Lincoln, who watching the procession with her family, said: "The group was spraying the chocolate around and going right up to them and spreading it on the officers' faces. | Michelle Johns, 37, from Lincoln, who watching the procession with her family, said: "The group was spraying the chocolate around and going right up to them and spreading it on the officers' faces. |
| "The officers were laughing the whole time." | "The officers were laughing the whole time." |
| This year's event will pay tribute to the steel pan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, which has been a significant feature of the carnival from 1964 until the present day. | This year's event will pay tribute to the steel pan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, which has been a significant feature of the carnival from 1964 until the present day. |
| The Notting Hill Carnival Enterprises Trust said some people thought the first carnival took place in 1964, but others argue a street parade took place the following year. | The Notting Hill Carnival Enterprises Trust said some people thought the first carnival took place in 1964, but others argue a street parade took place the following year. |
| However, the trust said there was documentary evidence which showed the first event with performers, costumes, music and placards took place in 1966 | However, the trust said there was documentary evidence which showed the first event with performers, costumes, music and placards took place in 1966 |
| A crackdown by police in the run-up to the carnival on 21 August saw officers make 126 arrests and seize guns, drugs and about £78,000. | A crackdown by police in the run-up to the carnival on 21 August saw officers make 126 arrests and seize guns, drugs and about £78,000. |
| Officers known as "super-recognisers" are trained to spot anyone banned from attending the carnival in the crowds. | Officers known as "super-recognisers" are trained to spot anyone banned from attending the carnival in the crowds. |