REDBRIDGE Carnival hit back with a bang as thousands of people from the community came together to celebrate the borough's rich cultural diversity.

Carnival organisers said there were up to 4,000 visitors to Goodmayes Park extension on Saturday, with around 800 people crowding before the stage throughout the day, enjoying a varied bill of entertainment.

Dance and musical performances were interspersed with speeches from local dignatories including MP Lee Scott and MP Mike Gapes who opened the event.

Pakistani High Commissioner Maleeha Lodhi was another honoured guest and she talked about the 60th anniversary of Pakistan before Cllr Balvinder Saund talked about the partition from the Indian point of view.

There was Indian dancing by the Redbridge Bhangra and Bollywood school, Irish dancing performances by the Mcguire O'Shea academy dancers, traditional African dancing by Adanta, and Egyptian dancing by Raqs Sharqi.

Loxford School's steel pan band who got the crowds moving and the evening was rounded off with a feel good show by Bob Marley tribute band Panultimate.

"This is one event that is by the people, of the people and for the people," said Redbridge Carnival organiser WIlson Chowdhry.

Community police from the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams used the opportunity to tell people what their work is all about, and the fire service gave a demonstration to show how dangerous a chip pan fire can be, and how to put it out.

Mr Chowdhry said the carnival committee are planning an even bigger and better Redbridge Carnival next year with a professional carnival procession and fair in South Park.

He added: "We need people to show their support for carnival as we are now applying for permission from the council.

"Redbridge Carnival is a free event and it will always be a free event, and we are very grateful to our sponsors."

What do you think of the Redbridge Carnival? Log on to www.redbridgecarnival.co.uk to fill out a questionnaire.