In Pictures: London's Notting Hill Carnival attracts millions of revellers for massive street party

The streets of west London have been transformed by the sights, sounds and sweet smells of the Caribbean as the annual Notting Hill Carnival took over the district.

An estimated two million people attended the two-day event, now in its 57th year, which originally was created as a celebration of the area's diversity and contributions of West Indian immigrants, chiefly the Windrush generation, to British society and culture.

Soca, calypso, reggae and dancehall are among the firmly established musical genres that can be heard from far and wide as dj sound systems set up on street corners to entertain revellers.

But the future of the carnival is under fresh doubt over a funding crisis with local authorities calling on national government for more money to provide security and crowd control.

The more colourful the costume, the better some say for the street parade in Notting Hill (The more colourful the costume, the better some say for the street parade in Notting Hill)

Europe's largest street party gives thousands the chance to dress up and join the festivities in Notting Hill (Europe's largest street party gives thousands the chance to dress up and join the festivities in Notting Hill)

Steel pulses: the parade through Notting Hill is accompanied by a cacophony of sound (Steel pulses: the parade through Notting Hill is accompanied by a cacophony of sound)

Solo striding, some parades pick just one costumed character as they walk through Notting Hill (Solo striding, some parades pick just one costumed character as they walk through Notting Hill)

Revellers often spend several months preparing the intricate costumes for the parade (Revellers often spend several months preparing the intricate costumes for the parade)

Away from the parade, revellers party through the streets and listen to sound systems (Away from the parade, revellers party through the streets and listen to sound systems)

MC means move the crowd as people sing and dance at Notting Hill carnival (MC means move the crowd as people sing and dance at Notting Hill carnival)