Biggest party is still fabulous at forty

When the Notting Hill Carnival was born 40 years ago, it was a way of encouraging black Londoners to remember their Caribbean roots.

A generation later, people come from all over the world, including the Caribbean, to see for themselves Europe's biggest street festival.

About 20 per cent of the crowd this year were from overseas, among them Dola Alexander, 47, who flew from Grenada. "I had to come here once to see it," she said. "It's a great atmosphere and a real credit to the Trinidad and Tobago culture."

Whatever may have happened outside its borders, Carnival was yet again peaceful and relatively crimefree despite some trouble later - albeit very, very noisy.

And crowded, too: an estimated 750,000 revellers thronged the streets to celebrate the anniversary (and, along the way, the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Trinidad and Tobago, although maybe not everyone in the crowd was quite up to speed on that one).

But the noise was the thing: the three-mile long route banged and whistled with an international party crowd intent on making the most of the 80 mass bands, 15 steel bands and 15,000 dancers. Whatever the clouds threatened, at least the rain mostly held off as the British weather did its noble best and bathed London W11 in a feeble imitation of Caribbean sunshine. What few showers there were did nothing more than dampen a few jerk chickens.

The 10,000 Met officers were also in celebratory mood with arrests down from last year's 186, to 114. The 107 crimes reported were mostly minor, including assault, criminal damage and drink and drug offences.

Chief Inspector Wayne Mawson said: "Everyone who has come to the carnival has enjoyed a peaceful and enjoyable event."

The colourful costumes were as gorgeous as ever, the floats as bright and vibrant, and as they passed a sea of dancers shimmied in their wake. Every possible vantage point, from street signs, balconies and arch ways, were used to get the best view of the passing sound systems, feathered headdresses and gravity-defying sparkling costumes.

DJ Norman Jay - now a Carnival institution - pulled in a crowd of thousands as he put on his unique brand of pumping tunes in a mammoth 12-hour set.

Arsenal and England footballer Sol Campbell put in an impromptu appearance.

The crowd also sent out a defiant message to Mayor Ken Livingstone, calling for the Carnival to remain in Notting Hill. The Mayor has said he wants the event to end in Hyde Park because of safety concerns.

Resident Alwyn Oliver, 70, who has been to all 40 carnivals, said: "You can't take the Notting Hill out of the Carnival. It needs the houses, the pubs, the local stores. It needs the streets. It's a street carnival."