Happy New Year! Yes, next week sees the Chinese New Year, when we say goodbye to the Year of the Rooster and hello to the Year of the Dog.

AT Gary McConnell's shop in Middlesbrough you can buy your Chinese New Year cards, calendars, good luck charms, dresses, tops, shoes, jackets... just about anything Chinese.

The shop is called Dong Ming, which is the name of Gary's wife. She comes from Hangzhou in Zheijiang province, one of the seven ancient capitals of China and described by Marco Polo in the 13th century as "one of the most beautiful and splendid cities in the world". And apparently still beautiful.

Gary, who's worked all over the world, was in China installing ten pin bowling alleys in hotels. When he had to train 30 Chinese people on how to use the computers, Dong Ming was one of them. She also spoke the best English and became his interpreter. And, very soon after that, his wife.

After a few years, they had a little boy, Joseph and came to live in England, where Gary worked in hotels. "People kept asking us to get stuff for them from China," he says.

Three years ago they opened a small shop in Coulby Newham, and 18 months ago moved to the centre of Middlesbrough, off Grange Road (just a few yards along from where they're putting up the bell tower) where their shop is crammed with everything Chinese.

They have a terrific range of silk dresses, the Qi Pao, in wonderful colours. The short versions are around £35, the longer ones around £40.

Silk brocade blouses at £20, children's dresses £12, silk kimono style dressing gowns from £22-£50, halter tops, men's shirts and lots of other things in silk or silk and rayon.

"And please don't think you have to be a size 6 and Chinese to wear the dresses," says Gary, "Absolutely not true. We stock many of them up size 16 and 18, some even up to size 24. Bigger women find them incredibly flattering."

There are also Chinese gowns, sort of floaty tunic top/dresses, pure silk, in wonderful colours and painted with designs such as clouds and butterflies. And they're only £30.

The couple have regular buying trips in China - Dong Ming and Joseph are there now, staying with granny.

"I have a wonderful mother-in-law," says Gary. "If we're stuck for anything here, we just ring her and she gets on her bike and goes down to the wholesalers."

As well as clothes, they sell items for Feng Shui, to bring good luck into the home. They have a huge range of Chinese knots, ranging from ones a few inches long to some a couple of feet or more, and ranging in price from £3.50 to around £30.

"The Chinese knot is one of eight traditional Buddhist symbols. They were traditionally made from one single thread of silk. You hang them in the health, wealth or relationship areas of the home or office, and the 'endless knot' symbolises a long life unaffected by setbacks and signifies the attraction of good fortune, wealth, peace and happiness," says Gary.

Some of the knots incorporate little mirrors - to deflect the negative energy , masks, vases, coins, bells.

There are also lots of Buddhas - "I love Buddhas and have so many of them in my house," says Gary - temple lions and lanterns.

There are brocade purses, wallets, fans, tablecloths, silk brocade handbags for £12, jade and bone ornaments and a range of Chinese paintings, hand painted and mounted on embossed silk brocade rolls - from around £40 to around £65. Subjects include landscapes, Chinese mei flowers and pandas.

There are also incense sticks and holders, oil burners, cards, even Chinese wrapping paper. And there are some great little wine bottle jackets - like little Chinese dresses - which have to make you smile even before you've had a drink.

Customers in the Middlesbrough shop are mainly English with a mixture of Chinese and other Asians. But they also have customers from all over the country and the rest of the world, especially America, for their website.

"And we like to make a thing of Chinese New Year. Last year we sent a lot of lanterns, ornaments and clothes into Joseph's school and they had such a good time - and learnt a lot about China - that we're happy to do this if any school is interested," says Gary.

"We're just trying to bring a little bit of China to Britain."

* Dong Ming's, 3 Priory Place, Grange Road, Middlesbrough (01642) 225125. www.dongmings.co.uk. Gary welcomes enquiries particularly from primary schools for free packs and special rates to mark Chinese New Year next week.

* The night of dancing lions - See Monday's Northern Echo.