AN Asian community in Colchester commemorated the start of the Luna New Year by hosting a traditional celebration in the heart of the city centre.

The Colchester Chinese Culture Society, which has been backed by Essex County Council, staged its New Year Gala on Saturday at St Botolph’s Church.

As well as acting as a platform from which to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, the spectacle also provided members of the community a chance to show their talents.

Over the course of the hour-and-a-half occasion, for example, the packed auditorium was treated to a thrilling lion dance, singing, musical performances and dancing.

Simone Xue, from the Colchester Chinese Culture Society, was delighted with how the annual celebration went down with all those in attendance.

Speaking to BBC News she said: “[The event] went very, very well, we had a full house. The general public really enjoyed it and we had a lot of positive feedback.

“It is very important for us, not only for us to show the general public our community spirit [but] also to share our culture with everybody else.

“We want to share our happiness.”

The Colchester Chinese Culture Society is a non-profit organization which formed in April 2004.

It was established to work for the benefit of the local Chinese community in Colchester and its integration into local and regional society.

The group also strives to work to promote Chinese community life and to foster interaction with other community groups.

To find out more information about the Colchester Chinese Culture Society visit facebook.com/ukcccs or head to cccs.online.