THE Chinese New Year came to Durham City on Saturday with a performance of the colourful Lion Dance.

The ceremony, performed outside the Gala Theatre by Durham Hung Sing Choi Lee Fut Kung Fu Club, heralded in the Year of the Ram.

The lion, brought to life by club members Shaka Brown, Liam Newberry, Sarah Williams and Chi Chung, also visited the library and Chinese restaurants.

Other club members provided music for the dance with drums, gongs and cymbals.

The Lion is said to bring good luck to all the premises it visits. At the climax of its dance it spits out leaves and the people who catch them are said to enjoy good fortune.

The event was staged by Durham City Forum and Durham county and city councils.

Colin Wilkes of the Forum said: "I think this will be a forerunner for something bigger."