It's Carnival time - in pictures

In the run-up to Lent thousands of revellers have been dancing and parading in carnival celebrations - and as usual, the biggest is in the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro.

Having a good time is the order of the day

Dancers parade in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro

The more flamboyant the costume, the better

Teams of mask wearing dancers line the streets

Tension begins to show as a young dancer waits her turn in the Sambadrome

Revellers pose during a pre-carnival parade

In Venice men donned the dress of eighteenth century ladies

In Madrid party-goers took their theme from the BSE scare, dressing as 'mad cows'