500,000 party at London carnival

More than 50,000 performers were involved in Monday's event

More than 500,000 people descended on the streets of west London for the final day of the Notting Hill Carnival.

Large crowds have been dancing on the streets to the massive sound systems and watching costumed Mas bands, steel bands and floats.

Meanwhile, more than 20,000 people have attended the London mayor's Caribbean Showcase in Hyde Park, aimed at families with young children.

A total of 213 carnival-related arrests were made over the weekend.

Seven people were arrested for drugs offences when police raided a house near Notting Hill and a bar.

Officers seized one kilo of cannabis, approximately £7,000 in cash, 400 ecstasy tablets and about 100 wraps of cocaine.

It's going very well. It's a very special day Professor Chris Mullard In pictures: Carnival

A large proportion of the arrests over the weekend were drugs-related. Other people were detained for theft and public order offences.

In addition, British Transport Police made 26 arrests at stations across London in connection with the carnival.

Organisers said more than 50,000 performers were involved in Monday's event, traditionally the busiest day of carnival.

Revellers flocked to the area to watch as a parade of 84 floats, complete with flamboyantly-dressed performers, made its way through Notting Hill along a three-and-a-half-mile route.

Professor Chris Mullard, chairman of London Notting Hill Carnival Limited, said: "It's going very well. It's a very special day. This year has been perhaps the best I've been to, and I've been coming for 42 years.

"People are giving something of themselves this year. It's not just a spectacle, people are participating and engaging in carnival themselves."

Police have said the event has been generally trouble free

The Metropolitan Police said they made 107 arrests on Sunday and 106 on Monday. Last year 183 people were arrested at the event.

The police spent 12 months preparing for the carnival and used 11,000 shifts to provide cover.

Earlier on Monday, Chief Inspector Rod Charles said: "It's going very well. We're just over three-quarters of the way into carnival and so far so good.

"We've had 40 arrests since midnight, not all in the carnival area. The arrests have been for various offences like conspiracy to supply drugs, public order and theft."

In addition to the 500,000 who turned up on Monday, Scotland Yard said at least 300,000 people were on the streets for Sunday's family-orientated Children's Day.

Event organisers put the figure for Sunday at 500,000.

---

Have you been to the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend? If so, you can send your pictures to [e-mail]

Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video