In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2007

The Notting Hill Carnival, which has been held every August Bank Holiday since 1966, is the world's second largest street party, after the Rio Carnival in Brazil.

Wayne Samuels, 47, has been serving jerk chicken at the carnival for the past 13 years. The event started as a local festival set up by the West Indian immigrants of the area.

Australians Christine Mitchell, 29, and Michelle Humm, 28, claim they love pulling pints at the carnival.

The theme of this year's event is Set All Free, commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

The long-awaited sunshine brought out the best of the carnival's colour - but it was thirsty work for the participants.

Carla Pohl, Nizelda Pretorius and Samantha Nel, all from South Africa, had never heard of the Notting Hill Carnival before discovering the festivities this year.

Sisters Blanche and Ebony Bukuru, both six from Northampton, said they loved the costumes, especially the "fluffy wings".

Music has always been at the heart of the Notting Hill Carnival, with traditional and contemporary sounds filling the air for miles around.

Mr and Mrs Taylor, from Southampton, were on their "inaugural" visit to the carnival. They said they were inspired after a recent holiday to Barbados.

Bob Marley tribute artist Lucio Hoover came back from Spain especially for the carnival.

Sewing, gluing, painting - months of hard work goes into the outlandish costumes to make the Notting Hill Carnival stand out in spectacular fashion.

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