Notting Hill Carnival 2018: Revellers cover each other in paint at J'ouvert street party to kick off the celebrations

Hatty Collier26 August 2018

Notting Hill Carnival got under way in an explosion of colour today as revellers took to the streets for an early morning paint party to the sounds of steel drums.

Revellers threw a street party as part of a long-running tradition to mark the start of the festivities and hurled chocolate, paints and powder at each other while dancing to music after sunrise.

The tradition, known as J’ouvert, sees performers throwing coloured paints and flour over each other to the sounds of steel bands and African drummers.

Its name is taken from the French “jour ouvert” or “open of the day” and marks the start of Notting Hill Carnival and is often used at other Caribbean festivals.

Three people smile and laugh together as they take part in the J'ouvert celebrations at Notting Hill Carnival
Rex Features

Spirits were not dampened by the chillier weather and threat of rain showers and revellers were pictured smiling, laughing and dancing together with paints and flour covering their hair and clothes.

Notting Hill Carnival Family Day 2018

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Some were sheltering beneath umbrellas or wearing plastic ponchos.

J'ouvert celebrations: Notting Hill Carnival 2018 gets under way
Rex Features

Video footage showed revellers dancing to the music as they made their way along a street in Notting Hill. The J’ouvert celebrations usually begin at 6am before the parade and official opening ceremony at 10am.

Police march before the Notting Hill Carnival Family Day in London
EPA

Former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke cut the ribbon to officially open at the carnival from 10am. She has been named as the first ever ambassador for the carnival.

Her first duty was to open this year's event which carves its way around west London in a mass of music, dancing, bold costumes and floats of entertainers.

Early morning revellers celebrate J'ouvert in Ladbroke Grove
Getty Images

Burke described it as "a privilege" and "just a bit nuts" to be a carnival ambassador.

It is a year-long role as the voice of carnival to help promote the community spirit and positive aspects surrounding the annual event.

To cheers from the crowd, Burke recalled going to carnival as a child with her family.

Paint and powder is thrown as early-risers celebrate the start of Notting Hill Carnival
Getty Images

She said: "The one thing that stands out for me about carnival is bringing the community together. It is people coming together and having a fantastic time.

"It is just about a good vibe, good music, good food and amazing people around you.

"So have the best day no matter what the weather is saying."

Police officers are seen on duty on the first day of the Notting Hill Carnival
AFP/Getty Images

Skies were slightly overcast and gentle waves of rain hit as the sound systems started to kick in.

A 72-second silence will be held at 3pm on both days of the carnival to remember those who died in the Grenfell Tower disaster, which happened close to the procession route.

The J'ouvert celebrations are set to the sound of steel drums
Rex Features

This year’s carnival will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years with more than 13,000 on duty across Sunday and Monday.

Knife arches have also been installed at Notting Hill Carnival for the first time. The arches have been placed at “strategic points” along the route of the west London street party, though the force has not disclosed where.

It is hoped the "tried and tested" method of knife arches will put off those planning to arm themselves with any offensive weapons - but not everybody will be expected to pass through them, the Scotland Yard said.

Revellers celebrate J'ouvert to mark the beginning of Notting Hill Carnival
Rex Features

Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director Matthew Phillip said using the knife arches is part of a wide-ranging "belt and braces" approach to try and make the carnival safe.

He said: "London as a whole and the UK is operating under a backdrop of knife crime, and we are working to have a safe carnival. The introduction of the knife arches is one thing we have as we to try to do that."

"There have been so many other events that have this.

This year's carnival will see the highest number of police officers on duty for six years
AFP/Getty Images

"Notting Hill Carnival is very different because it takes place on the streets. We will have even more eyes and ears on the ground from the community as well as police, and I think that will help to make sure people feel safe and to identify people who come to wrong.

"Most people who come to carnival come to enjoy themselves, and we want that spirit of safety and unity."

There will be 450 more officers on duty than last year and more than the parades over the past five years.

Almost 7,000 officers, some from the Metropolitan Police's newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, will be policing Monday's event to "combat the threat of violent crime".

This will be up from 6,100 on-duty officers on Sunday's less busy family day.

Using the neighbourhood's local nickname, Mr Phillip welcomed everyone to "the grove" and urged them to enjoy the day.

He said the energetic carnival, which has been brought to London annually for more than 50 years, celebrates "a pride in my community, a sense of unity and a sense of belonging even when among so many strangers".

Mr Phillip said: "Simply put, carnival is collective joy. I know it is safe to say that over a million people come to carnival and experience that collective joy and spirit."

He added it is why carnival has grown, year after year, "from a small community children's fair in 1966 into the immense event it is today".

Kensington and Chelsea Council's new leader Elizabeth Campbell was among the carnival crowds.

She was chatting with council deputy leader Kim Taylor-Smith and Conservative politician Shaun Bailey, who was bopping to the beat of a passing band of drummers.

Many residents living near the procession route have boarded up their homes and put up protective fences around their gardens before leaving Notting Hill for the weekend.

Shopkeepers and pub workers are looking forward to a booming weekend for business, despite the long working hours involved.

The event is expected to attract up to two million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music.

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