TENS of thousands of people took to the streets of Leeds today for the city’s annual West Indian Carnival.

The carnival parade wound through the Chapeltown and Harehills areas as the local communities put on a display of dance, colour and music.

Founded in 1967, the annual event was the brainchild of Arthur France, who  had arrived in Leeds from St Kitts-Nevis 10 years before.

Mr France, who, 57 years on, continues to chair the carnival organisers, said that when he came to Britain: “I left what makes the Caribbean tick, what gives the region such a pulsating heartbeat — I left my culture, my music, my art behind.

“I was not alone and, having connected with like-minded Caribbean students at Leeds University, family, friends, even complete strangers, we fought to make carnival happen,” he recalled.

“You can only imagine the battles we faced, not only from the authorities of the day but from within our own community. I was known as ‘that crazy man from Nevis’.”

“For us, carnival is not just about putting on a street party, spectacular as it is,” Mr France explained. “It is not just about sharing the sweetness of steel pan and soca music, nor the magnificence of costumes.

“It is a serious business that needs great partnerships and that creates a cultural and artistic legacy fuelled by the dedication, hard work and passion of our volunteers, contributors, artists and participants.

“Half a century later, it is the best way I know to secure unity and harmony.”

Mr France shared the platform at the carnival with Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, the city first black female lord mayor.