BBC News Saturday, 26 August 2006, 08:20 GMT 09:20 UK
Notting Hill braced for carnival
 Carnival is noted for its colourful performances |
More than one million people are expected to pack the streets of west London this weekend for the 42nd Notting Hill Carnival.
The Caribbean event, which has fallen on the last weekend in August since 1966, centres around Ladbroke Grove.
Organisers have resisted attempts to move the procession to start at Hyde Park - a separate Caribbean Showcase event will be held there on Monday.
Sunday is Children's Day for families, while Monday is traditionally busier.
A national steel band competition is also held on the Saturday evening in Kensal Green to warm up the area for carnival.
While Sunday's event tends to be quieter, with play areas for children, the big crowds flock to Monday's event, to dance to sound systems, watch the costumed Mas bands, steel bands and floats and enjoy the barbecues.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5274034.stm
BBC News Friday, 25 August 2006, 05:45 GMT 06:45 UK
Remembering the Notting Hill riot
By Emma Griffiths
 |  Police were ill equipped to deal with the violence when it started  |
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This year marks 30 years since the Notting Hill Carnival riot in 1976 - an important year for race relations and one which saw carnival hit the headlines - albeit for the wrong reasons.
1976 was bang in the middle of a period of racial upheaval that would lead to the Brixton and Toxteth riots of the early 1980s.
Tempers were boiling among young black men over police use of the "sus" law, under which anybody could be stopped, searched and held, even if only suspected of planning a crime.
Anticipating some trouble, 3,000 police officers turned up - ten times the amount of previous, relatively peaceful, events.
This raised the tension, but what sparked the riot is still open to question.
White fascist gangs were said to be at large. Police said it began after attempts to arrest a pickpocket.
Within seconds the whole place erupted 
Whatever set it off, police officers were soon dodging a hail of bottles and a surging crowd.