Cowley Road was a sea of sounds, smells and colour as thousands took to the street to enjoy the carnival.

Now in its fourth year, the carnival has grown into the biggest multi-cultural community event in Oxfordshire and with an estimated 20,000 partying into the evening it shows no signs of letting up.

The centrepiece of the main procession was two magnificent two Chinese Lions, shipped in to spread good luck.

Oxford's Sol Samba, who usually lead the celebration, were this year bringing up the rear and their infectious rhythms heralded the start of parties on every street corner.

"We normally lead the parade, " said Bill Frizzell, a drummer with Sol Samba. "But this year we were at the back so we just had the biggest party we could.

"I have been here every year since it started and I love it. It's special because it is a real mix and a chance to have fun. Without fun it is a sad world."

New to this year's carnival was the Dance Stage on the corner of Stockmore Street celebrating the diversity of youth and community dance projects in the city from Flamenco to Tango.

Perhaps the most appreciative audience for the new stage were the team at Cowley Road Methodist Church, where free tea and coffee was being served to revive revellers.

Catriona Manners said the free refreshments were very popular and the Dance Stage was a welcome change from the loud sound system that had been there last year.

"Our wall is very popular for watching the procession," she said. "The parade was very good and it moved much better than last year."

If tea and biscuits were not to all tastes, there were shops and stalls with everything from Caribbean to Italian and Bangladeshi to Polish cuisine.

Carnival-goers had to negotiate some impromptu, acrobatic and slapstick roadworks, courtesy of the Bureau of Silly Ideas, just one of the many street performances, before reaching the hub of the event at Manzil Gardens.

By mid-afternoon the gardens were packed with people relaxing to the fabulous London Community Gospel Choir on the Rainbow Stage.

Insp Helen Roberts of Thames Valley Police said the carnival had been very peaceful. "There were no arrests, so from our point of view it was a success," she said. "It was good-natured and good-humoured."