Notting Hill Carnival began with an explosion of colour on Sunday morning as revellers met in west London for J'ouvert. The opening event began at 06:00 BST ahead of the children's parade, with the streets awash with bright paint and powder.

Jacqueline McKenzie, a campaigner and human rights lawyer who helped victims of the Windrush scandal, said the carnival holds ‘huge national and international significance’. ‘The Government needs to recognise this and act urgently to protect it,’ Ms McKenzie said.

The Metropolitan Police is bracing for a deadly crowd crush at the Notting Hill Carnival. The annual celebration of Caribbean culture is expected to attract around two million people over the bank holiday weekend.