West Indian carnival still thrills after 59 years

Tens of thousands of people have gathered for the 59th Leeds West Indian Carnival.

The event is the country's largest such event outside London.

About 100,000 visitors arrive from outside the city for the event each year, including from Manchester, Leicester, Bradford and Wolverhampton.

The carnival, which began in 1967 and is held on the last weekend in August, celebrates Caribbean music, dance, food and culture.

The carnival is just one year younger than Notting Hill's, which held its 60th event this year.

Mark Henry, from the Rum Hut, said many people had returned to the carnival year after year.

"I've been coming for 57 years now and I remember coming with my parents," he said.

"[It's great] to see the younger generation coming up and doing the same thing.

"It introduces people to their culture and lets people know how we live. We're similar but culturally different.

"And it's just exciting. It's an exciting two days."

Levi, 34, and Bruno, 59, visiting from Bradford, said it was "the atmosphere, the vibrancy" that attracted them.

"I've been a carnival regular since the 80s," Bruno said. "I used to go to Notting Hill every year until I reached a certain age!

"Notting Hill is massive but Leeds is nicer. It's got a good vibe."

Levi added: "It doesn't matter whether you're pink, black, white, yellow, ugly, pretty, whatever – everybody of all generations just comes out to celebrate.

"Whether you're dressed, not dressed, looking out of place, nobody even cares. It's just about the vibrancy, the atmosphere.

"It's about cultures coming together to celebrate."

Organisers said the event usually attracted about 150,000 people, and it was the largest street festival in Leeds "and one of the United Kingdom's most significant celebrations of Caribbean culture".

Leeds City Council said it was "very proud" to host the event and it had "enormous benefits" for the city's culture, economy and communities.

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