DESPITE the torrential weather thousands gathered in Manchester city centre to celebrate Chinese New Year and the arrival of The Year of the Ram (or is that goat, or sheep, or just '羊'?)
As you'd expect, Manchester - with over 13,000 ethnic Chinese residents (double this when the students are in town) and the third largest Chinatown in Europe - throws quite a New Year bash.
Thousands of red lanterns flooded the city as crowds packed in to watch martial arts displays, traditional Lion dancing and the now famous 175ft Dragon Parade and fireworks finale.
Here's how it went off...
(photos courtesy of Chris Keller-Jackson at crankphoto.co.uk)
