CHINESE New Year celebrations continued in Hampshire with a host of song and dance performances.

The festivities took place at The Spark at Southampton Solent University, where a mix of acts marked the Year of the Rooster.

The university event follows Chinese New Year, which fell on January 28. Celebrations traditionally continue for the next 15 days.

At the event there were martial arts displays performed by Wutan Kung Fu School of St Mary’s Road as well as traditional Chinese dance. The crowd was also treated to some Chinese and Cantonese opera, and a variety of cultural stalls entertained the children.

Visitor Steven Phillips, whose son Stanley, aged eight, performed with Wutan Kung Fu School, said: “He has been learning a couple of years, and really loves it - he’s performed at all the events around the city this year.”

Daisy Xiang, a management marketing student at Southampton University, was volunteering on a stall where children could create special Chinese New Year envelopes.

The red envelopes are traditionally filled with money and given to children by family members to celebrate the new year.

She said: “Chinese people in the UK sometimes feel lonely so it’s a good opportunity to meet people and share our culture.”

Professor Mike Wilkinson, deputy vice-chancellor of Solent University, said: “We embrace the Chinese community is Southampton and are delighted to see so many people here today.”

Photos: Chris Moorhouse

People born in the Year of the Rooster are characterised as honest, energetic, intelligent, flexible and sensitive.

But according to Chinese astrology, for people whose zodiac sign is the Rooster, this is one of the most unlucky years. This includes people born in 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005.

There will be one more Chinese New Year event on February 11 (11am-4pm) at Southampton Guildhall.