Liverpool says Happy New Year

There were fairgrounds, firecrackers, dragons and unicorns in abundance to celebrate the start of this most abundant year. The Chinese God Of Wealth made an appearance, dressed in traditional costume and handing our blessings of luck and sweets for children, and a giant gold pig stood guard outside the Blackie.

There beneath the blue urban sky, we even spotted Mike “McCamera” McCartney taking his own snaps for the album. The brother of Beatle Paul kindly stopped and gave Liverpool Confidential the “thumbs up” for a picture and we wistfully eyed his photographic equipment, suddenly understanding the significance of his former Scaffold name, Mike McGear.

There was a Chinese market where Stephen Yip manned a stall for KIND that was selling Chinese make up bags for the charity, in fact it was difficult getting away from the colour and excitement of this most auspicious event.

Why the frolics even stretched as far as the WH Lung supermarket, in Regent Road, where teatime customers were shocked and amazed when a van screeched up to the front door and out piled a firecracker packin' ensemble, complete with instruments and their own dragon.

The band struck up inside the store and danced and cavorted their way around the wok display for the entertainment of all, before terrifying tiny children, more used to Asda, with an explosive firecracker display by the trolleys.

What a great supermarket and, hey, what a great day!