DRAGONS and dancers descended on Darlington to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Shoppers gathered to watch as pupils from Carmel College, Hummersknott Academy and Polam Hall School took part in the celebrations at Joseph Pease Place today (Monday, February 8).

Entertainment included thai chi demonstrations, a dragon parade and students writing calligraphy New Year’s messages for visitors.

Polam Hall’s assistant headteacher Jill Garvey said: “It is especially nice for our students and boarders of Chinese and Hong Kong origin. They like to do the writing and explain bits about their culture.”

Marion Ogle, events and library manager for Darlington Council, added: “It is nice to welcome Carmel College for the first time, they wanted to do it last year but it fell on their half term.

“Polam Hall and Hummersknott are very keen to celebrate Chinese New Year and they bring a lot of pupils; it is a good spectacle for the town.”

Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac and 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.

Meanwhile, Durham will celebrate the Chinese New Year this weekend.

Dancers from Ocean’s Apart Kung Fu Club will perform a traditional Chinese lion dance in the city’s streets on Saturday (February 13).

Themed entertainment will begin in the Market Place at noon and the dance will start at 1pm.

The “lion” will then visit the Prince Bishops shopping centre at 1.25pm, Clayport Library at 1.50pm and Walkergate from 2pm.

As is tradition, it will “chew” a lettuce and spit it out to Councillor Jan Blakey, the Mayor of Durham. If the Mayor catches the lettuce, it is said to bring the city good luck for the year ahead.

There will also be Chinese craft sessions at Clayport Library from 10.30am to 11.30am and from 2.15pm to 3.15pm, plus fairground rides in Millennium Place throughout the day.