A ROUSING dragon dance by infants at Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, in Hereford, kick started their cultural week in style.

The celebration will look at the world's religions with year 1 pupils focusing on Far Eastern traditions and the Chinese New Year.

Parents were invited to a tea party where they were treated to a festival of all things Oriental, including the dragon dance. The infants, meanwhile, provided some atmospheric music, bashing away at cymbals and tambourines.

Wishing their parents a Happy New Year in Chinese, the children then presented them with cards they had made.

Everybody present enjoyed a green tea, the traditional drink of the country. Finally the parents were taught how to make origami butterflies so that they could then teach their five-year-olds how to make them at home.

Teacher Kath Gainey said: "The point of this exercise is an important one as it teaches the children to listen and follow instructions. We would like to thank the Education Action Zone for their support and making this project possible."

Guest of honour at the festival was Professor John Bastiani who initiated the 'Parents in Partnership' project. The scheme also runs in five other South Wye schools.