In Pictures: Colourful parades mark Chinese Year of the Snake

Performers take part in Chinese new year celebrations in Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA) - (PA Wire)

Performers have taken to the streets in London and Liverpool to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.

The parade in Chinatown in the capital is part of the biggest Chinese new year celebration outside of China.

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

(Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

The arrival of the Year of the Snake was also marked in style in Liverpool, which hosted the Chinese dragon, lion and unicorn procession.

(Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

(Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

(Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

(Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)