Police pelted with beer bottles in running battles as gangs invade Notting Hill Carnival

These were the disturbing scenes which marred the end of London's Notting Hill Carnival on Monday night.

A gang of 40 troublemakers, hell-bent on wreaking havoc, hurled bottles and bricks at officers as the festival drew to a close.

Blockade: Police close off roads to contain the trouble as the Carnival ended in violence

The pitched battle spoiled what was largely a peaceful weekend enjoyed by more than a million people and police in riot gear had to be drafted in to break up the fighting.

A witness said: 'It was a fullscale riot, bottles were flying everywhere and carnival-goers and police officers were bloodied. A policewoman was carried off unconscious.

'Another had a two-inch gash above his eye. He was staggering and supported by two colleagues. The mob weren't scared. They were running towards the police, who were chanting, "One, two, three" and charging them.

Arresting: A man is held in Portobello Road in stark contrast to the party atmosphere earlier

'It was like a war zone. I haven't seen anything like it at the carnival since the early 90s. It reminded me of the Brixton riots.'

A resident who saw the battle from his flat said: 'I've lived here 12 years and this is the worst trouble and the biggest deployment of police I've ever seen at the carnival. At one point there were about 200 police down there. The officers looked terrified.'

The mood turned ugly as the festival drew to a close and the group rounded on the police in Ladbroke Grove, West London.

Ready to charge: Riot police move in to quell violence in Ladbroke Grove after officers were pelted with bottles

Chief Inspector Jo Edwards said: 'While thousands of people came to join in with the fun of carnival, once again the event ended with a minority who were determined to fight and cause trouble.

'For over two hours our officers were faced with a hardcore, mainly of young men, who came to the carnival not to enjoy the event but to fight, commit crime and cause trouble. This is not the way anyone can want to see the carnival finish.'

Dazzling: A dancer shows the true spirit of the Carnival

Performers dance in the street parade at the annual carnival in central London

Organiser Michael Williams, from London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said: 'More than a million people had a great time at the Notting Hill Carnival and enjoyed an amazing spectacle of colour, energy and music.

'While this incident - which happened after the festivities were over - is extremely disappointing, it is important that it should not overshadow what is Europe's greatest street party.'

There were 330 arrests, a rise on last year's 247, though Scotland Yard said this was down to 'more proactive policing'.

At a cost of £6million, the carnival is one of the capital's largest and most expensive public events to police.

Scotland Yard deployed 11,000 officers during the weekend, which began on Sunday morning when around 70 floats snaked along a three-mile parade.

First held in 1964, the Afro-Caribbean themed carnival entertained one million people