It takes more than rain to stop celebrations for the Chinese New Year.

The dismal weather looked likely to ruin plans for a colourful parade along Chatham High Street, one of the highlights of Medway’s festival calendar.

Shorter displays were planned for either end of the parade route but, in the end, the Chinese community took advantage of a break in the rain to hold the procession.

It was followed by a buffet meal for those taking part and a production of the show Kung Hei Fat Choi – the traditional New Year greeting – at the Central Theatre, in the High Street.

Festivities to celebrate the Year of the Ox began on Saturday at the Sir John Hawkins flyover where shoppers were entertained with lion dancing, dragon dancing and Chinese traditional dances. They also got the chance to buy Chinese New Year decorations and enter a competition for the best home-made Chinese-style costumes, which was open to adults and children.