THE noise and pageantry of the Chinese New Year celebrations breathed life into Chatham yesterday.

Hundreds of people lined the High Street as members of the Chinese community held a traditional parade through town to welcome the Year of the Sheep.

Two dragons, a nine-man and a solo version, danced their way through the crowds, as nearly 150 people dressed in traditional Chinese dress for the parade.

Members of the Kut O Chines Association led the way with the dragons, drummers and flag-bearers, in one of the South of England's biggest Chinese New Year bashes outside London.

They were joined by various guests, including a representative of the Chinese Ambassador to London, the Mayor of Medway Cllr Ted Baker and Gillingham MP Paul Clark.

Ruiyu Li, a minister from the Chinese Embassy, said: "Chinese New Year is a very important celebration that takes place all across the world. I have come on behalf of the ambassador to give the people of Medway a message of goodwill, peace and prosperity."

The parade was led by two gods of fortune, Ashley Davis from the Visitors Information Centre in Rochester and Kasiu Yau of the Kut O Chinese Association.

Afterwards, a celebration dinner took place at the Confucious restaurant in Chatham High Street.