Hundreds of people lined the streets as the Caribbean Carnival parade brought an explosion of vibrant colour and a thump of drums to Preston city centre yesterday.

Brightly coloured-dressed dancers, musicians and DJs took part in a joyful parade through Deepdale, the City Centre and finally ending in Avenham Park.

After a delayed start the convoy left Moor Park to begin their journey down Deepdale Road. They were met by a crowd of keen Prestonians, waving flags, blowing whistles and vuvuzelas to the sound of the steel drums.

Around ten floats blasted out Caribbean beats as dance troupes followed behind.

There were plenty of street vendors selling carnival merchandise to the public – which added to the festival noise of steel drums, African music, freestyling MCs and the trumpets of the vuvuzelas.

Sunday afternoon’s parade kicked off the carnival, which concluded at Avenham Park later in the afternoon.

One member of the public said: “I thought it would be a washout as the rain was so heavy this morning. We were really lucky that it stopped just in time and didn’t spoil the carnival.”

The scene down Church Street before the arrival of the carnival saw an amalgamation of crowds wanting to join in the anticipated celebrations.

The diverse mix of the public shows how Preston has become a multi-cultural community that joins together in celebration.

The Caribbean Carnival is now the largest and longest running cultural festivity in Preston outside of the Preston Guild. It is well organised, creates a sense of community spirit and has now become a local institution.

Photos by Sarah Cassidy