DURHAM will celebrate the Chinese New Year in traditional fashion this weekend (Saturday, February 1).

The Chinese Year of the Horse begins on Friday, January 31.

The following day Councillor Pauline Charlton, the Mayor of Durham, will take part in a ritual said to bring the city luck for the 12 months to come.

In Durham Market Place at 1pm, members of Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club together dressed as a lion will dance and ‘chew’ on a lettuce before spitting it out for the mayor to catch.

The festivities will then go round the city, to the Prince Bishops and Gates shopping centres, Millennium Place and Walkergate.

Clayport Library will hold Chinese New Year craft sessions for children from 12.15pm to 3.15pm and there will be themed offers at various retailers.

The fun is being organised by Durham’s Business Improvement District. For further details, visit durhambid.co.uk