THE streets of Medway were ablaze with colour as the Towns officially welcomed the Year of the Rat.

Medway Kut O Association and the Medway Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association sounded a dramatic finale to this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

Shoppers looked on as dancers and drummers led the spectacular annual parade through Chatham, starting from underneath the Sir John Hawkins flyover to Church Street at the eastern end of the High Street.

The parade is believed to be the biggest in south-east England after London, with more than 150 people in costume.