THE children of Hawes Down Infant School, West Wickham, welcomed in the year of the snake as they celebrated Chinese New Year last Friday.

The whole school shared the festivities in a celebratory assembly, making lanterns, kites, money pockets and cards and performing Chinese ribbon dances.

The children, aged four to seven, also built and paraded around in a large dragon costume.

And teacher Miss Natalie Breathwick entertained the school with a dragon dance.

Head Teacher Gill Duffin said: "It was a colourful and memorable occasion.

"The children learned about aspects of a different culture - the traditional story of Chinese New Year and why each is represented by an animal.

"It was joyous - there was colour and music and vibrancy."