Hundreds of thousands pack streets of London to celebrate carnival

Hundreds of thousands of revellers gathered in the streets of London for the annual Notting Hill Carnival yesterday, pausing their celebrations to remember the victims of the deadly Grenfell Tower fire.

The Caribbean carnival, Europe’s biggest street party, winds through west London streets near the tower block that was gutted by a blaze which killed at least 80 people in June.

The carnival’ s floats, steel bands and sound systems fell silent for a minute yesterday afternoon to remember those 0 Streets filled with revellers for the Notting Hill Carnival who died in the fire at the highrise.

The two- day festival opened on Sunday with the release of dozens of white doves to commemorate the victims. Participants also held a minute’s silence on Sunday for the fire victims.

Police said yesterday they had made 106 arrests – more than 40 for drug offences – on the first day of the carnival.

Security has been tightened this year in the wake of the vehicle and knife terrorist attacks across Europe, with steelbarriers and concrete blocks around the edge of the route.

Launched in 1964 with a few Trinidadian steel bands, the carnival lures partygoers from all over the world with its flamboyant dancers, colourful costumes, rousing steel bands and booming outdoor sound systems.