Manchester's Chinese community set to mark Chinese Year of the Dragon

Red lanterns hang above Manchester's Chinatown to mark the Year of the Dragon

A city's Chinese community has been preparing family reunions and festive dishes ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Crowds are expected for a busy weekend of festivities in Manchester's red lantern-adorned Chinatown, with stalls, a dragon parade, and a funfair planned.

Restaurant owner William Lau said he was anticipating a very busy weekend.

His sister Flora Lau said she could not wait to sit down and "celebrate with the family, especially my mum".

"She's come from Hong Kong this year, we have two days off, and the whole family will sit together," the co-owner of Manchester Chinese Restaurant on George Street said.

William Lau has been busily preparing crispy pork, roast duck and other traditional dishes

Nearby in at T.La Art & Craft Gallery on Nicholas Street, David Lau and his son Oscar have been selling festive decorations to mark the Year of the Dragon.

"This year's not been as busy as previous years, but it's still quite busy, you know the shop does get filled up quite quickly, people buying lots of red things, envelopes and lucky banners," Mr Lau told BBC Radio Manchester.

Oscar Lau has been helping his father David at T.La Art & Craft Gallery

Sophia Kwan has set out her stall on Market Street in the city centre to showcase jewellery she has made from natural ingredients like dried flowers and mushrooms as part of her So Blossom Accessories business.

"It's basically like our Christmas, it's a festival for us for as families to group together, have a big meal, and see relatives," she said.

Sophia is one of a group of people from Hong Kong who are celebrating the festival for the first time since they moved to Manchester.

"For us it's a very exciting event, we want to share with you guys our culture, but also a bit of background of our Hong Kong people as well."

Stallholder Sophia Kwan said New Year was a chance to share parts of her culture

There were "so many people" in the city who had moved from Hong Kong and "we want to keep our culture", Sophia said.

"It's a bit difficult when we are apart from our hometown, when we are apart from our family, especially during the festival times, we definitely miss our homes more."

Flora Lau said the Year of the Dragon would be "a more dynamic time"

Flora Lau said the festival, which marks the start of the spring season, was a time for "waking up" from the winter "so you can make you all the best wishes in that time of year".

"We'll be rammed all day Sunday and Saturday," said William Lau as he prepared a traditional turnip cake, made using white radishes, at the back of his restaurant kitchen.