More than 800,000 people partied in the streets of west London during the 42nd Notting Hill Carnival at the weekend.

Revellers came from across the globe to see over 50,000 carnival performers and 84 floats transform the quaint neighbourhood into a Caribbean spectacle.

Police made 275 carnival-related arrests, mostly for drugs offences, theft and disturbing public order. Last year 183 arrests were made on the two days of the carnival.

CARNIVAL PICTURES

On Monday, half a million people flocked to the main parade in the area around Ladbroke Grove, police estimated.

Children's Day on Sunday - aimed at families and usually quieter - attracted about 300,000 people, according to police. But carnival organisers put the day's figure at 500,000.

Another 20,000 people attended the Caribbean Showcase, a side event for families held by London mayor Ken Livingstone in Hyde Park.

The two-day festival, held on the August bank holiday weekend since its start in 1966, is known for the vibrant costumes of the Mas performers (short for masquerade).

Traditional Soca music performed by steelbands blended with with hip hop and soul blasted from 41 static sound systems along the three-mile route.

The carnival, now Europe's biggest street party, began 42 years ago as a small procession of Trinidadians in memory of festivals in their home country.

So far, the highest number of visitors ever has been 1.5 million six years ago.

With the theme "aspiring and achieving in unity", this year's organisers wanted to recreate the sense of oneness that followed London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

Police have prepared for the carnival for the last 12 months and used 11,000 shifts to patrol the event.

Seven of the 275 arrests were made during drug raids at a house and a bar in the festival area. Officers seized over a kilo of cannabis, 400 ecstasy tablets, 100 wraps of cocaine and about £7,000 in cash at the house in Cambridge Gardens and Cagneys Bar in Wornington Road.

By 9pm on Monday, police had received 140 allegations of crime related to the carnival.

British Transport Police (BTP) screened more than 5,000 people with metal detectors at Baker Street, King's Cross and Brixton stations.

The scheme, codenamed Operation Shield, was aimed at catching troublemakers en route to the festivities. Thirteen arrests were made, including eight for carrying weapons.

Updated 10.40am.