Over 50 arrests on first day of Notting Hill

LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) More than 50 people were arrested on the first day of this year's Notting Hill Carnival in west London, police said today.

London's Metropolitan Police said 54 people were arrested yesterday at the annual event, Europe's largest street party and the world's second biggest after the Rio Carnival held in Brazil.

This year, it takes the theme ''Set All Free'' and marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Two people were arrested for attempted murder, while other people were arrested for crimes including indecent assault, having an imitation firearm or offensive weapon, criminal damage, possession of drugs, being drunk and disorderly and handling stolen goods.

Three people were arrested in connection with an incident in which a man suffered stab wounds.

The man, who was found in Ladbroke Grove at around 2350 hrs IST is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering two stab wounds to his abdomen.

In total, there were allegations of 70 crimes, a 43 per cent drop on day one of the carnival last year, when 122 alleged crimes were reported.

Before the carnival got under way, police arrested 21 people suspected of planning to cause trouble at the event. Officers are taking no chances after a spate of teenage killings in the capital this year.

Organisers hope to attract huge crowds from all over the world to the two-day party, with the largest crowds due to arrive today for a parade along the route from Ladbroke Grove to Westbourne Park.

The turn-out yesterday was helped by sunny weather following Britain's wettest summer on record.

The annual riot of noise and colour kicked off with a parade featuring dancers in elaborate feather head-dresses and multi-coloured costumes covered in sequins.

Traditional steel bands competed with pulsating Caribbean soca and calypso music blasted from banks of speakers mounted on the back of trucks.

More than 300 food stalls sold traditional Caribbean dishes such as curried goat, spicy barbecued ''jerk chicken'' and Jamaican rice and peas.

Organisers said the crowds will munch their way through five tons of chicken and 16,000 coconuts, washed down by 10,000 litres of stout and 25,000 bottles of rum.

REUTERS RAR VV1444