Thousands of people turned out in the scorching sunshine for Oxford's third Cowley Road Carnival.

Michael Mjunguna's face paint summed up the rainbow theme

Traffic in Cowley Road and St Clements was brought to a standstill while traders and carnival-goers spilled into the streets to watch the Rainbow procession on June 15.

Almost 600 people took part in the multi-cultural procession, led by Sol Samba, including Chinese dragons, Punjabi dancers, Zimbabwean singers and 300 schoolchildren.

Music fans sat in Manzil Gardens to listen to live music bands throughout the afternoon.

A new mobile skate ramp and graffiti art feature proved popular.

The event's first Carnival Queen, county councillor Olive Steadman, joined the parade in costume.

Organisers, who have spent months planning the event and rallying community groups, schools, businesses and churches, said they were delighted.

The Cowley Road Carnival is sponsored by the Oxford Mail as part of the city's Fun in the Parks programme of events.

Carnival co-ordinator Henrietta Gill said it could be necessary to consider closing Cowley Road in future because the carnival was growing so large.

"We're near to having to close the road," she said.

"It's exciting being able to do it for a short time for the procession.

"It all worked beautifully. For the first time, the whole community was represented in some way or other."

The event was launched three years ago by East Oxford Action, which provided funding for the final time this year with the last of the Government's single regeneration budget cash.

Funding from the Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op and Oxford City Council has secured its future.

East Oxford Action manager Zoe Brook said: "The carnival has done what we said it would do -- celebrate this community."