LIVERPOOL’S famous Chinese New Year celebrations will boast a number of new features this weekend.

Around 15,000 people are expected to take part in the festivities to mark the Year of the Dragon, against the magnificent backdrop of Europe’s biggest Chinese arch on Nelson Street.

To mark the occasion a specially-created water dragon will hit the city streets, taking over Bold Street and the Ropewalks area as part of the festivities on Sunday.

Musical community organisation Urban Strawberry Lunch has created the water dragon, which is around three metres long and made of old lanterns, fake fur, huge pipe cleaners and glitter balls.

USL artistic director Ambrose Reynolds said: “We love Chinese New Year. It’s one of those rare times when the whole city can gather together to celebrate.”

Celebrations will take place between 11am and 4pm in the Chinatown area including Nelson Street, Berry Street, Great George Street and Great George Square, where there will be a firecracker display at 1pm. For the first time many performers will then move to Bold Street to perform outside the Chinese-related businesses.

The water dragon will entertain the crowds before and after the spectacular lion, dragon and unicorn parade, which takes place along Nelson Street and Bury Street just after 1pm.

The popular Taste of China street market will also be on a much larger scale than last year, with more than 45 food and craft stalls taking over Great George Street.

There will be a significant number of roads closed for the event. The closures will mainly be on Sunday from 6am up to 8pm in the Chinatown area. General pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Details of all road closures can be found at www.liverpool.gov.uk