The weather perked up over the first weekend in July as tens of thousands turned out for the Nottingham Caribbean Carnival, making it the memorable first event in the East Midlands Carnival Season.

Building on the success of last year, the main stage offered a greater diversity of acts. These included on ‘Passa Passa‘ Saturday: V Rocket with Val B and Belly, Immortal – the UK’s no 1 sound from Birmingham with Tyrone Melody, Noodles, One Ras and a full dance crew. Also performing was Trini, Re-load with Titus from Leicester and NG Cartel with Bad Boy, amongst many others. Sunday’s main stage acts included Kambasemba, Witness, Denzee, Willis Rose and the head line act Bushman! Comedian compere, Ping Wing, entertained the main stage crowd on both days with jokes and dancing.

It was also the first time in ten years that the Carnival parade went through Nottingham city centre, bringing the irresistible atmosphere to Sunday shoppers.

Twenty troupes - each complete with their own pumping sound system - gathered in

The Carnival procession left the city centre via Derby Road, before taking its colour and noise on to Alfreton Road and Bentinck Road and finally to The Forest Recreation Ground at around 5pm.

The overall theme of this year's Carnival was the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

At the Forest ground, there were art and craft activities, face painting, bouncy castles and fairground rides, alongside exotic cuisine from around the world - with people continuing to party into the night.

Rose Hargreaves, 25, dancing as part of the Freedom Arts and Tuntum Troupe said: "It's just a really good place to come and have a fun day and meet lots of new people."