Liverpool Samba School _320

SAMBA fever took hold of Liverpool on Saturday evening, as the city’s first Brazilian-style carnival made its way through the streets.

Thousands of people gathered along the procession’s path to see the wonderful costumes and the dancers flown in from Brazil for the occasion.

Together with dancers and percussionists from Liverpool, Holland, Ireland, Germany and Spain, the parade made its way from the Arts Centre in Myrtle Street, down Bold Street, Slater Street, Wood Street, Concert Square, Fleet Street, Duke Street and Great George Street, finishing under the Chinese Arch in Chinatown.

The organisers were worried at one point that they were going to have a Brazilian street party without the dancers from Brazil as they missed their flight. Luckily, they were able to get a later flight and arrived in good time.

The carnival was the brainchild of Roger and Maeve Morris, from the Liverpool Samba School, where they have worked together for 20 years.

Mr Morris said: “We are doing this to leave a legacy in 2008. This sort of event should become annual. We wanted to give people the chance to get involved, to keep coming back.”

Jessica Anderson, 13, from Garston, was among the crowds watching the parade.

She said: “I thought it was fantastic. All of the performers were really brilliant and kept stopping for me to take their picture.

“I can’t wait to get them developed. I found the costumes really inspiring and I hope I can use the pictures in an art project next year. They will make a bright collage, I am really glad I came to watch.”