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Chinese New Year festivities brighten streets of Birmingham

News imageBBC Chinese lion dancers inside a Birmingham office buildingBBC
A Chinese lion will be a familiar sight on the streets of Birmingham on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

The rain may have been lashing down, but the streets of Birmingham were awash with colour as the city's Chinese New Year celebrations began.

Up to 40,000 visitors are expected in the city over three days to welcome the Year of the Pig.

And the festivities kicked off earlier with a parade through the city's Colmore Business District.

News imageBBC A Chinese lion head protected from rainBBC
The Chinese lion head, made from papier mache, was covered in plastic to protect it from the rain
News imageBBC The Chinese lion team in BirminghamBBC
The Chinese lion team returned to St Philip's Cathedral for a lunchtime concert
News imageBBC The Chinese lion team arrive at St Philip'sBBC
The concert at St Philip's marked the start of three days of celebrations

A special concert was then held at St Philip's Cathedral with performances by Birmingham Conservatoire and Dans Dance Company.

"This year's programme is hugely exciting and diverse, and will see us working with all our partners to bring Chinese New Year to places and spaces across the city," said James Wong, chairman of Birmingham's Chinese Festival Committee.

"We are very proud of our heritage in bringing this unique and unforgettable spectacle to life."

News imageBBC Chinese music soloist at St Philip's CathedralBBC
A Birmingham Conservatoire performance of Chinese music at St Philip's Cathedral
News imageBBC Dans Dance Company perfomersBBC
Traditional Chinese dance from Dans Dance Company
News imageBBC Dans Dance Company perfomersBBC
Chinese performers will entertain people in Birmingham across three days
News imageBBC A Chinese lion in Newhall StreetBBC
Up to 40,000 visitors are expected in Birmingham over the weekend

Celebrations continue on Saturday in the city centre, with a parade of lion and dragon dancers through Bullring and Grand Central.

Shoppers will also be entertained by acrobatic displays and martial arts from Shaolin Warriors.

On Sunday, the Chinese New Year celebrations will continue in the city's Chinatown area near to Birmingham Hippodrome.

The Hippodrome is staging a series of free performances in The Patrick Studio, including music, dance and spoken word.

The pig, one of 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, is believed to be a symbol of optimism, enthusiasm and hard work.