THE roar of the tiger greeted thousands of people welcoming in the Chinese New Year in Liverpool over the weekend.

Organisers estimated up to 18,000 visitors attended the two-day event, 3,000 more than the previous year.

The celebrations marked the 10th anniversary of Liverpool’s twinning with Shanghai, less than three months before heading to the World Expo 2010.

The city is the only UK representative at this year’s event.

On Saturday, council leaders watched a ceremonial lion dance in front of Liverpool’s Chinese arch, the largest outside mainland China.

Yesterday Chinatown was adorned in red with flags and special lighting as crowds watched lion, dragon and unicorn dances.

Many assembled at Great George Square, at the end of Nelson Street, for a spectacular firecracker display, pinned to a metal scaffolding, as onlookers hung out of their windows to watch the deafening explosions.

Educational activities were held at The Blackie while live music and a fun fair packed the length of Great George Street to its junction with Parliament Street.

Arts group Urban Strawberry Lunch set up camp in St Luke’s Church, on Berry Street, and invited the public to decorate the interior of the “bombed out” church.

Last night, the Chinese Variety Show was hosted at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel with a theme of East meets West.

The line-up of artists included the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra and traditional and contemporary artists from Wah Sing Chinese Community Centre.