FIRECRACKERS welcomed in the Chinese New Year at a celebratory banquet attended by hundreds of people in Ipswich.Mayors from 12 areas of Suffolk joined members of the county's Chinese community yesterday for a massive feast to mark the start of The Year of the Horse at the Ipswich Caribbean Association on Woodbridge Road.

FIRECRACKERS welcomed in the Chinese New Year at a celebratory banquet attended by hundreds of people in Ipswich.

Mayors from 12 areas of Suffolk joined members of the county's Chinese community yesterday for a massive feast to mark the start of The Year of the Horse at the Ipswich Caribbean Association on Woodbridge Road.

Freddy Chung, deputy chairman of the Suffolk Chinese Community Group, which organised the festivities, said three dignitaries from the Chinese embassy had joined the revellers to welcome in the New Year.

Speeches from the mayors were followed by dances by the children and athletic members of Ipswich's Kung Fu Academy in Charles Street brought a fiery paper lion to life as they danced to cymbals and drums to the delight of the guests.

Mr Chung said all at the party wished the people of Suffolk "Kung-hei fat-choi – congratulations and all the best for the coming year".