A VISITOR attraction is hosting a series of events to celebrate Chinese New Year.

The Year of the Horse will get under way at Newcastle's Life Interactive World with special activities along the Fortune Cookie Trail, during half term week, from next Monday to Saturday.

It will begin with under-12s having their faces painted with their Chinese birth signs, followed by a theatre performance of the traditional unicorn dance by musicians and dancers.

Visitors will then follow the trail to find a calligrapher and see a display about medicines, including acupuncture.

A storyteller will entertain children with myths and tales from ancient China, and the activities will be rounded off with a stage show demonstrating lantern making and teaching simple dance moves.

Youngsters completing the trail will be entered into a competition, and each will receive a free fortune cookie.

There will be Oriental foods at the centre's Mad Pursuits caf.

Linda Conlon, director of Life, said: "It's a fabulous half term treat for families."

The programme will mark the start of a festival planned for Newcastle's Chinatown.