Carnival street parties begin in Rio

People danced and threw glitter at one of the epic street parties known as "blocos" that swarm Brazil's Rio de Janeiro ahead of the official opening of the world's biggest carnival.

Rio de Janeiro’s carnival is famous worldwide for its samba school parades and the big street parties which attract huge crowds in Central Ria and the South Zone. "This is a great way to start the year," says civil servant Edmilson Rosario.