Sunshine and children's floats delight crowds at Europe's biggest street party

For many who did not attend the Notting Hill carnival in London yesterday, the T-shirt that Max Snyder was wearing would have summed up their view of the event. It bore the logo "Notting Hell".

They would, however, have been wrong. Yesterday's jamboree, named Children's Day to attract families, was everything the manic whistle blowers could have hoped for.

It was peaceful, the sun shone and one could move, a rarity for the biggest outdoor arts festival in Europe, which is in its 37th year and attracts up to two million revellers.

Crowds stood contentedly next to barriers watching the 57 children's masquerade bands jig their way past to music so loud it made your sternum rattle.

Leading the procession was a group calling itself Paddington Schools, who wore giant bloodshot "eyes" on their backs to depict the scene "Through The Eyes Of A Child''.

Every colour then followed on sequins, feathers, head-dresses and yet more wings. Perhaps the youngest performer was two-year-old Kermia Taylor in a red and white frilly dress who gave the judges two unsteady twirls before flopping back into her pushchair.

The oldest participants must have been members of the London Fire Brigade who wore T-shirts with the words "Le' We Show U Wha' We Got''. Many of them looked more than a squeak over the age limit of 21. The fact that most of them were wearing earplugs was another give away.

Mr Snyder, 20, a student who grew up locally, said: "I bought the T-shirt outside Notting Hill Tube station after the film came out. It's nothing to do with the carnival. This is the best party in Britain. The atmosphere is fantastic and everything goes."

Suzanne Oliver, 37, from Newbury, Berkshire, who works for a cancer trust, said: "This is the first time I've been and it's brilliant. There are so many cultures mixing together. The colours are amazing.''

Lisa Branell and her boyfriend, Conny Lundgren, both from Sweden, had timed their trip to England to coincide with the carnival.

"It's such fun,'' said Ms Branell, 20, a student. "In Sweden there are festivals but none with this atmosphere.''

Paul Wilkinson, 49, an assistant headteacher from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said parents needed cheering up after the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. "It makes people nervous and anxious, so something like this to lighten the mood is great," he said.

Police said they had made 34 arrests at the carnival.

The only moaners were those at work. A British Transport Police officer said:"One person in 100 is unpleasant. You just have to turn the other cheek."