Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival has been given the go-ahead, but with earlier finishing times of 7pm to give crowds time to disperse, reports the Metro. Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival has been given the go-ahead, but with earlier finishing times of 7pm to give crowds time to disperse, reports the Metro.

After the UK riots that spread from London to cities including Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, doubts occurred whether the Carnival would be called off following fears that the event would be targeted by troublemakers.

However the decision to give the green light was made by Kensington and Chelsea council today.

The carnival's parade of floats will finish by 6.30pm and its static sound systems by 7pm allowing crowds time to disperse before it gets dark.

The Met police believe 7pm to be the time when trouble is most likely to occur, following fears of unrest after the riots of the last fortnight.

The move would also mean parents whose children are partaking in the event could remove them from the area in good time if it appears trouble is likely, said the Metro.

However this decision to allow the Carnival to continue has not been met with positivity by all as residents living around Notting Hill have urged the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to call off this year's carnival because of the riots, reports the Evening Standard.

Sheila Robertson, a resident, said to the Evening Standard: "A lot of people want to see it done away with altogether. But personally I don't think it should be because it might make matters worse. Many local people just leave the area altogether and just hope that when they come back their homes are still there."

Yet after the police and carnival organisers held a series of meetings to discuss security arrangements the carnival is to go ahead.

Notting Hill Carnival is a two-day celebration of African-Caribbean culture that takes place in West London over the August bank holiday weekend.

Originally started as an offshoot of the Trinidad Carnival in 1964, today the Notting Hill Carnival has become Europe's largest street festival.

With hundreds of thousands of regular visitors enjoying live Masquerade bands, Soundsystems, street food, dancing in celebration of diversity, colour and sound which remains true to its Caribbean roots.