The Chinese community ushered in the Year of the Dog with a fanfare of snap, crackle and Seventies pop.

The New Year came in late but noisily at Hove Town Hall.

Crowds waited in the cold of Church Road to see the elaborate dances of lions and dragons bringing luck and wealth for the coming year.

There is a thriving Chinese community of around 3,000 in Brighton and Hove and most seemed to have turned up for the festivities which started with a bang as lion and dragon dancers wound their way around the town hall to the sound of drums and music.

The fearsome animals are believed to scare away evil spirits and negative energy with their strength and power.

Nancy Zeng, co-ordinator for the Chinese Educational Development Project, said: "The dog is supposed to bring people wealth. Everything should flourish and bloom."

Swirls of lucky colours like red, gold, and green transformed the hall into a stage for traditional Chinese dance and song.

After the opening dances, Bob Carden, the mayor of Brighton and Hove, and a representative from the Chinese embassy in London made welcoming speeches.

Coun Carden handed out certificates to people who had made significant contributions to the community over the past year.

A choir made up of people of all ages and cultural backgrounds performed the song Oh My Country and girls from Varndean College wore traditional dress for Northern Chinese dances.

The festival ended in slightly less Oriental style with a rousing chorus of the YMCA so that everyone could join in.

Ms Zeng said: "It's hard work putting the celebration together but we really enjoy it. Most of the people who take part are volunteers."

The date for the Chinese New Year falls on the 24th day of the 12th month of the lunar year.

It is believed to be the date gods ascend to heaven to pay their respects to the Jade Emperor, the supreme Taoist deity.

Worshippers crowd into temples to burn incense, make offerings and pray for fortune and happiness in the coming year. Houses are cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away any traces of bad luck and on New Year's Day fireworks and firecrackers are set off to scare away evil spirits.

People born in the Year of the Dog are said to be truthful, loyal, hardworking and clever, with a strong sense of fairness.