Full report: Chinese New Year celebrations
Celebrations to welcome in the Chinese New Year have been taking place across the Midlands.
As part of the festivities, people got to watch Dragon dances, Kung Fu demonstrations and music.
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Birmingham Mayor says Chinese New Year celebration is now 'tradition' in the city
Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr John Lines, says that weather hasn't washed the smiles off faces at the Chinese New Year celebration in Birmingham.
Welcoming in the Year of the snake, revellers packed out the city's Arcadian Centre for an afternoon of festivities.
Celebrations are expected to go on into this evening.
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Thousands arrive at Birmingham's Chinese New Year festival
Thousands of people gathered in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter – the Arcadian Centre – to usher in the Chinese New Year.
This year was planned to be the biggest yet, says Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee Chairman, Jeffrey Yap.
He told ITV News Central what revellers could expect from today.
Birmingham ushers in the Year of the Snake
Thousands of people packed out Birmingham's Arcadian Centre today, to join in with Chinese New Year celebrations.
The event is organised by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee. On average, the day normally sees around 30,000 people attend the free event.
Last year's festival saw sunshine, whereas it has been a damp afternoon in Birmingham this year. Nevertheless, revellers amalgamated into one of the city's most cultural quarters to usher in the Year of the Snake.
A traditional Chinese dragon entertained the crowd this afternoon.
Chinese New Year celebrations in Birmingham
Micro-brewers working with universities
Micro-brewers in the East Midlands are working with the University of Nottingham to develop bottled beers which can be sold to China and South East Asia.
Small breweries have an advantage in the export market because they pay less tax than larger producers. China is the world's largest beer market.
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Jaguar Land Rover on verge of China deal
Jaguar Land Rover is on the verge of a major deal into the world's biggest market with the plan of building a car plant near Shanghai in China.
Mark Gough reports.
Jaguar Land Rover confirms deal with China
Jaguar Land Rover will soon start building cars in China to meet demand in its fastest-growing market. The company sold more than fifty thousand cars there this year, but heavy importation taxes make them expensive.
Soon, 100,000 cars will roll off the production line in China, but Jaguar Land Rover has always stressed this is to meet extra demand and production will not be shifted from its factories in the Midlands.
In a statement today JLR confirmed the partnership with China:
– Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile Company Ltd"Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile Company Ltd can confirm that the joint venture project application has been cleared by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
"Both Jaguar Land Rover and Chery welcome regulatory clearance for the equal partnership company and will confirm details of its ambitious plan for the joint venture in China at a press conference, after receipt of formal written confirmation.
"We will now follow the official process for incorporation of the JV; neither party is in a position to disclose any additional information or financial terms at this time."
Jaguar Land Rover to build cars in China
Jaguar Land Rover is to start building cars in China as soon as 2014.
Read the full storyJaguar Landrover given approval to build cars in China
Jaguar Landrover has been given approval by the Chinese Government to build cars in China as early as 2014.
In a joint venture with Cherry Automobile Jaguar Land Rover will build 30,000 Jaguars, 43,000 Range Rover Evoques and 34,000 Freelanders.
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