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REVELLERS soaked up the sunshine at the hottest Notting Hill Carnival in history.

Crowds enjoyed ice-creams and clutched water bottles as the mercury soared to 33C in London on Sunday.

Sound systems make their way down Ladbroke Grove at the Notting Hill Carnival
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Sound systems make their way down Ladbroke Grove at the Notting Hill CarnivalCredit: Rex Features
Revellers and performers take part in the first day of the carnival
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Revellers and performers take part in the first day of the carnivalCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
A carnival performer puts on a colourful display
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A carnival performer puts on a colourful displayCredit: Reuters

The streets along the route in west London were awash with colour as hundreds of thousands of partygoers enjoyed the beginning of the long-standing celebration of Caribbean heritage in the capital.

They meandered through the streets to the beat of steel pan drums, as well as dance hall music blasting from speakers piled on to floats.

Onlookers gathered on pavements in the sunshine as the community celebration began carving its way around west London in a mass of music, dancing and bold costumes of neon Lycra and brightly-coloured feathered headdresses on Sunday morning.

Almost 12,500 police officers and some 1,000 stewards will be in place across the two-day event to ensure a "safe and spectacular" festival.

After what Metropolitan Police hailed as a successful use of screening arches - used to detect offensive weapons - for the first time at the carnival in 2018, there are "significantly more" dotted around the area this year.

Some revellers looked a little worse for wear after the festivities
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Some revellers looked a little worse for wear after the festivitiesCredit: MagicmomentsUK
One female reveller was carried away by medics
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One female reveller was carried away by medicsCredit: MagicmomentsUK
One shirtless man could be seen lying on the pavement
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One shirtless man could be seen lying on the pavementCredit: MagicmomentsUK
Reveller's dance on a window ledge at Notting Hill
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Reveller's dance on a window ledge at Notting HillCredit: Reuters
People squirt water pistols to cool down on the first day of Notting Hill Carnival
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People squirt water pistols to cool down on the first day of Notting Hill CarnivalCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Dancers in costumes during the children parade on the family day
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Dancers in costumes during the children parade on the family dayCredit: Rex Features
One million people are expected on the streets in scorching temperatures for the Notting Hill Carnival
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One million people are expected on the streets in scorching temperatures for the Notting Hill CarnivalCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Revellers are seen playing the steel drums during the paint-filled party
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Revellers are seen playing the steel drums during the paint-filled partyCredit: Rex Features
J'ouvert parade starts the carnival festivities with the traditional paint, oil and coloured powder being thrown to the sounds of African drums and rhythm bands
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J'ouvert parade starts the carnival festivities with the traditional paint, oil and coloured powder being thrown to the sounds of African drums and rhythm bandsCredit: Alamy Live News
A woman is seen pouring paint power over other revellers as part of this year's festivities
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A woman is seen pouring paint power over other revellers as part of this year's festivitiesCredit: Reuters
Boozed up revellers dressed up in fluorescent colours for the event
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Boozed up revellers dressed up in fluorescent colours for the eventCredit: London News Pictures
A woman is seen taking a selfie whilst covered in paint
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A woman is seen taking a selfie whilst covered in paintCredit: Alamy Live News
Many party goers were seen enjoying the J'ouvert traditions of hurling chocolate, paints and powder at each other
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Many party goers were seen enjoying the J'ouvert traditions of hurling chocolate, paints and powder at each otherCredit: Rex Features
Two revellers stick their tongues out at each other
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Two revellers stick their tongues out at each otherCredit: Alamy Live News
Police watch over as revellers enjoy J'ouvert, a paint fight that officially marks the start of the Notting Hill carnival
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Police watch over as revellers enjoy J'ouvert, a paint fight that officially marks the start of the Notting Hill carnivalCredit: London News Pictures
Police out in numbers in the early morning as the annual Notting Hill carnival kicks off with the Family Day parade and children dressed in colourful costumes
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Police out in numbers in the early morning as the annual Notting Hill carnival kicks off with the Family Day parade and children dressed in colourful costumesCredit: Alamy Live News
Over 12,000 cops will be at the scene of the north London event throughout the August Bank Holiday weekend
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Over 12,000 cops will be at the scene of the north London event throughout the August Bank Holiday weekendCredit: Alamy Live News
A police van pictured in Ladbroke Grove this morning where revellers began painting the town red in the early hours of the day
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A police van pictured in Ladbroke Grove this morning where revellers began painting the town red in the early hours of the dayCredit: Alamy Live News
The two-day event is the second largest street festival in the world after the Rio Carnival in Brazil, attracting over 1 million people to the streets of West London
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The two-day event is the second largest street festival in the world after the Rio Carnival in Brazil, attracting over 1 million people to the streets of West LondonCredit: Rex Features
Police were seen keeping things under control on their bikes
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Police were seen keeping things under control on their bikesCredit: Alamy Live News
More than 2million people are expected to attend Europe's biggest street party over two days of the bank holiday weekend
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More than 2million people are expected to attend Europe's biggest street party over two days of the bank holiday weekendCredit: Alamy Live News
A woman is seen dancing with a large rubber duck inflatable
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A woman is seen dancing with a large rubber duck inflatableCredit: Rex Features
J'ouvert participants cover their body in mud, and celebrate the start of the carnival. When the sun has risen, the masquerade bands then take over
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J'ouvert participants cover their body in mud, and celebrate the start of the carnival. When the sun has risen, the masquerade bands then take overCredit: Rex Features
Revellers are seen dancing friskily during the carnival
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Revellers are seen dancing friskily during the carnivalCredit: Alamy Live News
A carnival goer is pictured posing by a police van
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A carnival goer is pictured posing by a police vanCredit: Alamy Live News
Powder paint is seen thrown over revellers
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Powder paint is seen thrown over revellersCredit: Reuters
They were pictured having a good time this bank holiday weekend
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They were pictured having a good time this bank holiday weekendCredit: Reuters
Water guns were also part of the celebration
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Water guns were also part of the celebrationCredit: Reuters
Ladbroke Grove saw many police officers walking round this morning
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Ladbroke Grove saw many police officers walking round this morningCredit: Alamy Live News
Thousands took to the streets
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Thousands took to the streetsCredit: Reuters
Paint was splattered across this reveller's face and clothing
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Paint was splattered across this reveller's face and clothingCredit: Reuters
The areas around Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park are currently very busy with some road closures
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The areas around Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park are currently very busy with some road closuresCredit: Reuters

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