STUDENTS from Bolton Institute and civic dignitaries celebrated the Chinese New Year with a fashion show and disco.

The Mayor, Cllr Cliff Morris, helped to welcome in the Year of the Monkey at a New Year party held at the Ukrainian Club in Radcliffe Road by the Chinese Scholars and Students Association.

More than 100 guests had a Chinese meal and then enjoyed an entertainment by students, a Chinese fashion show using bin bags and polythene, a disco and party games.

There were speeches by the Mayor and Mollie Temple, the Bolton Institute Principal, and a tape recording of fireworks was played at midnight to avoid disturbing neighbours with real ones.

Yillin Zhang, chairman of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, said: "This was all been organised by the students. We even cooked the meal."