Steel drum maestro Rachel Hayward played a key role in this weekend's Notting Hill Carnival celebrations.

Rachel beat out a joyful, tropical sound from the top of the 38 Bananas float.

But it could all have been so different. She is a classically-trained double bass player but decided to switch to a more mobile instrument.

The twang of a double bass would probably not carry so well over the din of the carnival crowds.

And hauling a steel drum around the festival floats is less likely to give you a hernia.