Romford Market welcomed a fiery visitor.

Romford Recorder: The dragon wasn't alone - a traditional Chinese lion also paraded through the market on Saturday, leading people to the Shopping Hall for their red envelopes (photo: Joanne Severn, via e-mail)The dragon wasn't alone - a traditional Chinese lion also paraded through the market on Saturday, leading people to the Shopping Hall for their red envelopes (photo: Joanne Severn, via e-mail) (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Snake – which began on February 10 – a giant paper dragon paraded around Market Place and Romford Shopping Hall at the weekend.

Accompanied by drums, the dragon - and, later, a dancing lion - led shoppers to the Chinese Emporium shop where, as per Oriental tradition, youngsters were given special red envelopes containing money – or, at least, chocolate coins.

A loud, dancing dragon or lion parade symbolises the warding off of evil spirits.

The photos in our gallery - to the top-right of this page - show the colourful display as it passed up and down the market. Send your photos and thoughts about the display to ramzy.alwakeel@archant.co.uk and you could see them featured on our website too.