Thousands set for carnival

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Organisers are expecting more than 750,000 people to descend on the streets of Notting Hill to celebrate the 44th year of the west London street party.

The two-day celebrations have taken place around Ladbroke Grove on the last weekend in August every year since the 1960s.

The crowded streets will house 64 masquerade, or Mas, bands and 38 sound systems over the bank holiday weekend to accompany the three mile parade with ear-splitting music.

Ten thousand people are also expected to squeeze into the junction between Conlan St and Middle Row to hear house DJ Sancho Panza hit the decks.

The theme for this year's party is Welcoming the World, chosen to reflect the multicultural nature of visitors and to link the carnival with the 2012 Olympics.

The first day of the carnival coincides with the official handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London, and festival-goers will be able to watch the handover events live from Trafalgar Square on a giant screen installed at Pleasance Park, near Ladbroke Grove.

Past events have seen the festivities marred by violent clashes between party-goers and the police.

In 1976, 100 police officers had to be taken to hospital after they clashed with the crowds.

Eight years ago two men were killed during the event, and in the 2007 carnival a 14-year-old boy was shot in a spate of violence that saw several people being stabbed.