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Thousands turn out for Year of the Snake parades

PA Media A long orange and golden dragon is paraded by performers in Liverpool, surrounded by spectatorsPA Media
PA Media Stilt walkers in traditonal Chinese costumes, embroidered in intricate red and gold, and porcelain white and blue. Round red lanterns hang from tree branches in the backgroundPA Media
Liverpool has been home to one of the oldest Chinese communities in Europe, since seamen arrived in the port in the 1860s
The colourful festivities are a popular showcase of legends and costumes

Huge crowds have turned out to watch Lunar New Year festivities in north-west England.

Parades were held in Manchester and Liverpool, which is home to Europe's oldest Chinatown.

Thousands of spectators thronged the streets to celebrate the Year of the Snake, which symbolises intuition, intelligence and mystery.

Celebrated by 2 billion people worldwide, the festival runs over many days and starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, which occurred on 29 January.

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