Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out on the streets of west London for the second day of the Notting Hill Carnival. Parades of flamboyant performers along with sunny weather have attracted the crowds, with police estimating the attendance at 600,000. The theme of this year's event was Set All Free, commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. The carnival, which is in its 43rd year, is the world's second largest street party after the Rio Carnival held in Brazil. Processions of brightly-dressed participants in elaborate costumes have been dancing along west London's streets to the sound of Caribbean rhythms. On Sunday, an estimated 250,000 people turned out to see the children's parade. Lewis Benn, one of the carnival's organisers, said the event had grown into a massive cultural celebration. Arrests He said: "The history of carnival evolved from the slavery days of people under oppression - looking at ways to free themselves from oppressiveness and that's how carnival evolved into the great event it is now. "Coming over in the '50s from our forefathers in the Caribbean, mainly Trinidad, and it has grown into what we have - a great diverse event which covers all cultures and is now one, if not the biggest, cultural event in Europe." Police have made 103 arrests over the carnival period, including three for attempted murder, after a stabbing, remain in custody. Some 178 criminal incidents have also been reported. Carnival-goers have praised organisers and police for making the event feel safe. Mia Frederickson, 35, who attended with her husband and two children, said: "We're having a great time and the kids are loving the atmosphere. "They're only five and 18 months but there's so many police around I'm not too concerned. It feels very safe." Reprinted from bbccaribbean.com