Notting Hill carnival expected to draw 1 million

A performer takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival parade in west London on Sunday Attendance at the two-day Notting Hill Carnival is set to top a million people as hundreds of thousands turn out for Monday\'s parade, the climax of west London\'s celebration of Caribbean culture .
Bright sunshine is forecast to cheer the revellers as they enjoy the floats, music from sounds systems along the route and tasty food from roadside stalls as the carnival reaches its 49th year.

The first carnival bands took to the roads around 9am on Monday and the streets of Notting Hill are set to be packed with partiers until 7pm, when the parade should complete its procession, organisers say.
A huge crowd lined the route on Sunday for the traditional children\'s day parade, striving to catch a glimpse of the decorated floats and their exuberantly dressed occupants.

Scotland Yard said police arrested 111 people on Sunday, for several different offences including sexual assault, assaults on police, carrying offensive weapons and 30 for suspected drug crimes.
A police spokesman said 6000 officers were present on Sunday, with 1000 more on duty on Monday.
London Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance treated more than 300 people for cuts and bruises to their feet and alcohol-related injuries. A spokesman said 45 were taken to hospital.

Source: AFP