
Graffiti artists took advantage of boarded up shops ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival to produce a colourful backdrop to Europe's biggest street party.

The outpouring of creativity has transformed the streets in west London into a network of art in preparation for the vibrant costumes and parades that will swamp the area across the three-day event.

Blazing hot weather has been predicted for the Monday of the festival, with highs of 28C (80F) in the capital forecast by the Met Office.

More than a million revellers are expected to descend on the Carnival, led by the local West Indian Community.

Festival feel: The neighbourhood has taken on a creative mood as The Elgin pub in Ladbroke Grove displays beautiful graffiti

All eyes watching: This detailed mural was one of many that popped up shortly after buildings were boarded up in Notting Hill

Good job well done: One graffiti artist with a talent for portraits of women with flowing hair brightened up the boards of a pub

Artsy: Supermarkets and other shops have erected graffiti-covered boards in west London as part of the Notting Hill carnival

This evening will see the free, open-air Panorama party, with national steel bands and other entertainment kicking off at 6pm and running until 10pm.

Tomorrow morning opens with J'ouvert – ('opening of the day') - a traditional procession before sunrise, where participants cover their body in mud to celebrate the start of carnival.

Sunday is traditionally known as 'family day' with the Sunday Parade featuring children from schools across the capital who showcase their flamboyant costumes.

The Grand Finale is on Monday, when a French heatwave will mean Britain is hotter than the Algarve with temperatures between 28C and 30C.

The Carnival has been held annually since 1966 and sees performers and samba bands travel from across the world to take part in the celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture.

Casual: This graffiti artist set to work without even putting down his bags to decorate a board on Westbourne Park Road

Paying tribute: An artist (left) uses a stencil to spray a green heart on one of the boards to show support for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, which left at least 80 people dead in the west London high-rise block in June this year - while another (right) adds a dash of pink paint to his tag

Vibrant: Even the festival toilets have been treated to a splash of paint

Spray-paint covered boards line the streets in west London as Notting Hill Carnival gets underway over the weekend

Getting the party started: This evening will see the free, open-air Panorama party, with national steel bands and other entertainment kicking off at 6pm and running until 10pm

Preparation: The Carnival has been held annually since 1966 and sees performers and samba bands travel from across the world to take part. These boards, designed to protect buildings on the float route, were brightened up with spraypaint

One of the graffiti artists was pictured today using a stencil to spray a green heart on one of the boards to show support for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, which left at least 80 people dead in the west London high-rise block in June this year.

The Metropolitan Police has warned revellers not to take selfies in front of the Tower.

Tributes following the fire will be fenced off to protect them from Notting Hill Carnival attendees, with a raft of measures in place to ensure the tragedy is marked and the community respected.

Extra officers and protective barriers will be stationed around the blackened tower in a 'ring of care' to protect the Lancaster West estate from the hundreds of thousands of carnival-goers that will pass nearby, the Metropolitan Police said.

And posters have been put up along the carnival route near to the high-rise to discourage attendees from taking photos of the charred tower, an activity which has distressed locals.

The Carnival Treatment: Businesses have been boarded up for this weekend's festivities

Commander Dave Musker denied being part of the fun police as he warned people gearing up for the festival to stay safe

Where business fronts are usually found, wooden boards bear graffiti as Notting Hill in west London prepares for the carnival

Shop fronts, business and homes have been covered in spray-painted wooden boards for the festival this weekend

Carneevaal-esque: A stallholder sells carnival related signs from her market pitch ahead of the parades

This comes after tourists and visitors were seen taking selfies below the building in the days following the tragic fire which claimed at least 80 lives in June.

For the first time, concrete blocks and security barriers will completely close the carnival route to vehicles for ten hours each day.

Up to 9,000 officers, almost a third of the force's warranted workforce, will be on duty as part of a multi-million-pound operation - with some working 16-hour shifts. The move comes as experts warn of the continuing risk of a crude terrorist attack like that seen in Barcelona involving vehicles and knives.

Snatch squads are prepared to arrest wanted offenders and known gang members identified by facial recognition technology.

Grime artist in row with Met over 'black' events Rapper Stormzy accused police of targeting 'black events' on Tuesday after Met officers Tweeted they'd made more than 300 arrests before Notting Hill carnival. In response to a Tweet referencing 'uncut heroin', the rapper said: 'How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?' On Friday Commander Dave Musker, who is charge of policing the carnival, defended police tactics after 454 arrests were made at last year's festival. He said: 'I cannot remember a single murder at Glastonbury.' His comments came as over 650 people had been arrested prior to the carnival. Advertisement

It is hoped CCTV cameras and 'super recogniser' officers will help flush out a tiny minority intent on violence.

Extra search teams will be on hand to identify troublemakers attempting to smuggle acid into the crowds.

Residents in the west London suburb spent the week locking down their homes with some streets lined by graffiti-covered hoardings.

Workmen erected wood and metal boards around businesses and homes prior to tomorrow's event. But many homeowners chose to travel out of the city to avoid Europe's biggest street party.

Commander Dave Musker revealed more than 650 suspected gang members, drug dealers and knifemen have been rounded up in dawn raids before the event.

Hitting back at criticism of a £60,000 heroin bust in Lewisham by campaigners who said it was unrelated to the carnival, he said: 'I don't care what we arrest them for. We will be lawfully audacious if we can to get them off the streets.

'If they have got heroin or other drugs we will target them … This is my 28th carnival and I have policed it at every rank from constable to commander. I am not hostile. I want it to be a success … but I want it to be safe. I'm not a member of the fun police … I am trying to encourage people to have a safe event.'

His comments come after Michael Omari, 24, known as rapper Stormzy, who wrote online to the force: 'How many drugs did you lot seize in the run-up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?'

Commander Musker said: 'Last year we had 70 to 80 stabbings, four of [the victims] nearly lost their lives … I cannot remember a single murder at Glastonbury. We are going to be uncompromising in ensuring the safety and security of the public.'

Last year more than 450 people were arrested over the two days, the highest number since 2008, as police racked up an £8million bill. Dozens were injured and more than 90 weapons seized. Police said four stab victims survived only thanks to the expertise of paramedics. There were more than 45 attacks on officers.

This year's vehicle ban will be enforced from 9am to 7pm. There will be two moments of reflection for victims of the Grenfell fire but visitors will be discouraged from stopping close to the building itself.

Measures like these help stop people urinating and defecating during Notting Carnival - but they also bring added brightness and flair to the festival, which celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture

Up to 9,000 officers will be working at this year's Carnival to protect performers and punters from violence and drugs. Pictured: Juliana Campos and her nine-year-old daughter Bella wave to a passer-by as they rehearse in full costume

Workmen have placed toilets in Ladbroke Grove, west London, where Notting Hill Carnival will be enjoyed in the hot weather

A large police presence is expected at the Carnival after Commander Musker said there were 70 to 80 stabbings at last year's

Buildings in west London have been protected up with chipboard, which has been covered in graffiti for the festival

Chief Superintendent Robyn Williams said the Tower area must not become a 'circus', adding that floral tributes there would be protected.

Officers will be equipped with testing kits to combat anyone trying to 'swan in with a bottle of Lucozade with acid in'.

Lorna Macbeth, 68, who has lived in the area for 40 years, protected her home with wood and chicken wire. The retired teacher said she had trimmed her garden so people cannot hide behind plants.

'The main issue is people using your steps as a toilet which is why we have to board it up,' she said. 'We all love it here, but when revellers come and do not respect people's homes it makes it difficult.'

The festival starts this evening with Panorama – a free open air evening of competitive performance by national steel bands.

Grenfell Tower became a hot spot for tourists to take selfies outside after a fire in Kensington claimed at least 80 lives in June