Some 50 "techno-wagons" were rolling along the route

But the weather did not seem to have dampened the spirits of the ravers dancing along Berlin's June 17th Avenue from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Monument.

Thousands danced to thumping techno in front of one float bearing the legend "Join the Love Republic" in bright orange letters.

Sindy, 22, and Ela, 19, from the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, were unconcerned that fewer people were attending the Love Parade this year.

"It means we've more room to dance and wiggle," they remarked.

They were among thousands showing off extravagant costumes - among them shiny bikinis and fluorescent snow boots.

Twenty-year-old Rico from Frankfurt-an-der Oder was particularly proud of his furry beige flares.

"I used the sitting room rugs to make these," he said.

Organisers' troubles

Officials said some 2,000 police, 900 first-aid workers and five ministers were out on the streets along with the hundreds of thousands of party-goers.

Police said there had been no major incidents, but they had made dozens of arrests for drug-related offences.

Ravers have been coming to the parade since 1989

The parade this year is facing a tough test of its popularity after a series of wrangles over dates and accusations of commercialisation.

Environmentalists, who were upset over damage caused to the Tiergarten park through which ravers march, had blocked the event from taking place as usual on the second Saturday in July.

Following weeks of discussion with the Berlin authorities, Love Parade organisers managed to settle on a later date.

The parade organisers will also now have to foot the bill for the clean-up operation, after losing a case in Germany's highest court.

The Love Parade was previously classified as a political demonstration, which meant that the city authorities bore the cost of the clean-up.

The Love Parade has lost its soul

DJ Sven Vaeth

But now that it has lost that status, and is deemed to be a commercial event, the organisers are facing a bill for an estimated one million Deutschmarks ($450,000).

To add to the parade's troubles, some star DJs such as Sven Vaeth and Marusha have said they will not take part since it has become a commercial event rather than a celebration.

Vaeth said: "The Love Parade has lost its soul."

A similar event in the UK, the Newcastle Love Parade, had also been due to take place this weekend but was cancelled at a week's notice over safety fears and unresolved transport issues.

Organisers BBC Radio 1 were aiming to salvage part of the event with ticketed dance gigs planned for Saturday night.