In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2008

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.

Some 600,000 people joined in two days of fun, and the atmosphere was one of celebration, despite tight security.

Months of hard work goes into the elaborate costumes to make the Notting Hill Carnival a sea of bright colours.

Lavishly decorated floats snaked their way through the streets to the sound of steel drums. Themes included Back From Space, Creatures Of The Earth and Paradise.

Norman McKenzie, 42, has been serving jerk chicken at the carnival for the past six years.

The success of Jamaica in the Olympics was a source of pride for many carnival revellers, with sprinter Usain Bolt now joining Bob Marley as a Jamaican icon.

Music has always played an integral role at the Notting Hill Carnival, and the sound of drumming mixed with the music coming from giant speakers.

Like many revellers, Tanya Scantlebury, 28, whose family is from Barbados, was keen to display her roots. The lawyer said she loves the carnival's mix of Caribbean "flamboyance" and London chic.

Ezio Kroll goes to the carnival every year because he says it's the one time in the year when Londoners relax and talk to strangers.

The theme of this year's event is Welcoming the World. In keeping with this, Francoise Leroy (left) and his friends travelled from Normandy, France, to spend the weekend at the carnival.

Becki Havill, 15, was soaking up the atmosphere at her first carnival with her friends April and Beth Summers. The trio were looking forward to sampling some jerk chicken.

The event was started by the Caribbean immigrants of the area. It served as an act of community defiance following race riots.

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