Around 300 Chinese children and their parents saw in the spring with dancing, songs and special guests.

News Shopper: Greenwich Chinese Community School ushers in the spring

Greenwich Chinese Community School pulled out all the stops for its 33rd anniversary celebration - including a lion dance by the Pak Mei troupe, ushering in the year of the horse.

News Shopper: Greenwich Chinese Community School ushers in the spring

Pupils performed a joyful dance called Wahaha, while there was singing from the youth club team in both Mandarain and Cantonese - languages they are taught every Sunday.

Guests included top members of the Chinese embassy Tang Li and Li Hui, along with Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford.

The popular volunteer-run school, which once hosted the event annually, saved up for a staggering three years for the 2014 celebration, having lost funding.

News Shopper: Greenwich Chinese Community School ushers in the spring

Headteacher Josephine Chan said: "We saved money to make this happen and everybody was feeling happy when they left the school. They were all smiling."

News Shopper: Greenwich Chinese Community School ushers in the spring

To find out more, or support the school, based at Meridian School in Old Woolwich Road, call 020 8858 2410.