The four directors of Chinese restaurant Oriental Garden in Sheep Street hosted the opening party for friends, family and guests of honour, with a ceremonial dance on the street outside the restaurant after Mayor Lee Mason joined the owners to cut the ribbon.

Members of the Chinese circus performed the lion and dragon dances to a percussion band before fireworks went off in the street in front of a crowd of spectators.

The restaurant, which opened earlier in February, serves two menus aimed at both Chinese and English customers, as well as a lunch menu prepared by a head chef from Hong Kong.

Sam Hong, managing director and dim sum chef, said: "Our restaurant is so different because we do traditional Chinese food, and we do finger snacks for lunch time, which aren't too expensive. We're aiming to achieve what no one has ever done in Northampton."

The afternoon continued with a buffet lunch for guests, Chinese dancing and plate spinning.