Colourful costumes and loud music mark the beginning of the 40th Notting Hill Carnival, which has got under way. Scotland Yard said officers have made 10 arrests since the early on Sunday morning for a range of offences. More than a million people are expected to attend the west London event over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Organisers hope it will be bigger than last year when attendance figures fell to about 600,000. Freedom and Justice is the theme of this year's carnival. About 10,500 officers will be on duty over the weekend in what remains the Met's biggest annual public order event. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve House said: "A number of roads will be closed so it will be easier to make your way in to London by public transport. "Plan your journey in advance and know where you can access up to date information. Crowded area "Don't forget to check the weather forecasts and make sure you bring appropriate clothing and refreshments if necessary. "You may well end up in a very crowded area so you need to keep your belongings with you at all times and be aware of who is around you." While the carnival is celebrating four decades, the roots of the event date back even further to the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833 when the first Caribbean carnival was held in Trinidad. Chris Mullard, chairman of the London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said: "I think everyone is over the moon that it has kept going for 40 years - it has really made a big mark on the London cultural map." SOURCE: BBCCARIBBEAN.COM