THERE may have been some confusion over what year was being welcomed in.

But as families flocked to Oxford Town Hall on Sunday to join the city’s Chinese Community for its annual New Year celebrations, there was no doubt a lot of fun was had by all.

Dancers, acrobats and musicians delighted the packed hall with stunning performances, while there were a series of speeches by Oxford dignitaries.

Even if there was some doubt over what year was actually being celebrated.

Lesheng Kong, 39, who attended with his two-year-old son Andrew, said: “There are 12 animals for each different year and this is the year of the sheep, although some people say it is the year of the goat or ram.

“People have different opinions. This is because they are talking about a particular kind of animal which can be given different names.

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“But most people think it’s the year of the sheep.”

Celebrations for the event, the biggest annual fundraiser for the Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre in Princes Street, started last Thursday.

Chairman of the centre Raymond Wan said: “It’s the most important event of the year for us and the most important fundraiser for the Chinese community.”

Among those who delighted the crowds were Jean-Paul Ly, who led a traditional Lion dance, Boldo and Gema, who thrilled the audience with an acrobalance display, and the Yangko dancers, whose performance was called Eternal Friendship.

A workshop at the Museum of the History of Science taught children how to make their own ‘firecrackers’.

Lead Education Officer Chris Parkin said the children’s eye-catching creations were based on an original laquered fire clock kept at the museum.

It is one of many fire clocks from the Song Dynasty, which are more than 1,000 years old.

Maariya Asif, six, attended the workshop with her brother Hakeem, nine.

She said: “It was brilliant. It wasn’t difficult – I got help from my mum. It looks fabulous.”

Mum Tayba Asif, a Chinese kickboxing instructor from Hinksey Hill, said: “It was a really nice day out for them.

“We’d been stuck at home because of the rain.

“We didn’t have to wait long and both of my children came out with a really nice dragon clock.”