LION dancers roared through Durham city centre this weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Members of Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club paraded the brightly-coloured, 10ft long lion around the Market Place, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Milburngate Shopping Centre.

The traditional celebration began with the Mayor of Durham, Councillor Ray Gibbon, feeding the beast some lettuce.

This was symbolically spat out in a gesture to bring good luck to the city during the Year of the Monkey.

Shoppers joined in the festivities as organisers handed out fortune cookies.

At Clayport Library in the city, youngsters enjoyed Chinese calligraphy and storytelling.