A huge gold-coloured statue of Lampião dominated the Imperatriz Leopoldinense float

Captain Virgulino Ferreira, better known as Lampião, is a controversial figure. Considered a folk hero by some, others say he was a mere bandit.

Members of the samba school donned leather hats similar to that worn by Lampião

Born at the end of the 19th Century, Lampião grew up in Brazil's rural northeast. After a dispute with a powerful landholder. his family fell on hard times and Lampião and some of his brothers joined a group of local outlaws.

Gangs of bandits like the one led by Lampião roamed the countryside of Brazil's northeast, looting and stealing.

They also demanded protection money from landowners in exchange for not targeting their properties.

While they had the support of some locals who saw them as attacking the vast inequalities between the rich and the poor in this region of Brazil, they were hunted by those whom they terrorised.

Toy rifles were part of the props carried by the dancers

Some of the floats were decorated with huge skulls and made to looks like scenes from hell, with dancers dressed as devils in a nod to the legend that Lampião ended up in hell after his life of crime.

Skeletons and ghouls gave the parade a macabre tone

Some revellers donned glasses to imitate the bespectacled bandit.

Lampião wore glasses and many dancers copied his look

While carnival costumes are often rich in sequins and bold colours, Imperatriz Leopoldinense's costumes featured the earthy tones of Brazil's northeast, the home of Lampião and his outlaws.

Many costumes had traditional patterns

Other samba schools competing for the title went for the brightly coloured feathers usually associated with carnival.

Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school came third this year

Many also featured exotic animals on their floats, such as this white tiger.

Paraiso do Tuiuti was in eighth place out of the 12 samba schools competing

Vila Isabel wowed spectators with their St George fighting a dragon.

Vila Isabel built a statue of St George complete with a smoke-spewing dragon

Many also praised Viradouro's drum queen Erika Januza and the boundless energy she brought to the parade.

Erika Januza had a key role in Viradouro samba school's performance

Other members of Vila Isabel took their inspiration from satyrs.

Satyrs, half men half goat, danced their way through the Sambadrome