Pupils from Hartley Primary School, Hartley Avenue, East Ham beat bad weather by staging a sunny Caribbean carnival indoors.

The colourful festival was the first of its kind and the celebrations were kicked off by Goodness Gracious Me and Bend It Like Beckham actor Kulvinder Ghir.

Parents watched children sing, dance and wave their banners to steel band Tropical Heatwave.

Head of art Fiona Gillan said: “Unfortunately, the wet weather meant that we had to hold the event indoors but it didn’t dampen our spirits!”

The costumes were made by the children during arts week. Older pupils used their skills to paint the faces of the other year groups.

The younger students performed dances they had prepared the week before for their parents and paraded around in their new costumes.

Enterprising pupils from Hartley Primary also used the carnvial to sell their ice cream float drinks - but all money raised went towards improving the school council.