Caribbean comes to London streets

Notting Hill Carnival kicked off yesterday with an explosion of colour and music, bringing Caribbean culture to the streets of west London.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Aug 2013, 01:01 BST

After fears the start of Europe’s biggest street festival would  be hampered by rain, the  skies cleared and the sun s hone on performers as they danced their way through  the streets in elaborate  costumes.

Up to one million people are expected to attend the two-day extravaganza, which is in its 49th year.

Thumping basslines, sizzling meat and tooting whistles filled the air as giant floats made their way from Westbourne Park Underground station, up Kensal Road, along Ladbroke Grove and down Westbourne Grove.

One of the first groups to take to the streets was the charity Kinetika Bloco, whose dancers wore pink, green and white costumes while a brass band played songs from The Clash’s Rock the Casbah to Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.