Half-a-million enjoy trouble-free Notting Hill Carnival.

More than half-a-million people flocked to the annual Notting Hill Carnival yesterday to enjoy what was a mainly trouble-free event. Police said more than 500,000 people descended on west London's streets for the final day of Europe's biggest street festival.

Scotland Yard said that by 6.30pm, 68 arrests had been made since 10am yesterday, though not all were necessarily within the event area.

Chief Inspector Rod Charles, the Metropolitan Police's spokesman for the event, said, 'It's going very well ... so far so good.'

Twenty-four of the arrests were for drug offences, a further 10 were for theft and eight for public order. Six were for assault, six drunkenness, five for offensive weapons, two criminal damage, two traffic offences, two disqualified driving, two robbery and one wanted on warrant.

British Transport Police made 11 carnival-related arrests at stations across London.

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

A parade of 84 floats complete with flamboyantly-dressed performers made its way yesterday through Notting Hill along a route of 3.5 miles. There were also 15 steel bands and 41 sound systems. 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.'

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Publication:	Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales)
Date:	Aug 29, 2006
Words:	229
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