REVELLERS are gearing up for colourful celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year.

Newcastle's Chinatown district will see firecrackers and dances to herald the Year of the Ram.

For the first time this year, there will be three Chinese animals taking part in the dances - a lion, two unicorns and a dragon.

Roads in Chinatown will be closed tomorrow from 11am to 4pm.

Celebrations will also take place in Durham today.

There will be a Chinese Lion Dance and a display by Durham Kung Fu Club, in Millennium Place, from noon.