That was the greeting from Sheffield's Karen community as they welcomed around 400 guests to their new year's celebration at Abbeydale School.

Around 120 members of the Karen community fled native Burma to escape repression, arriving in the city around two years ago.

And now it was time to party - Karen style.

The Karen people originally came from Mongolia before crossing into Burma - now called Myanmar by the country's current military rulers - in 739 BC.

And they count their arrival in the Burma and Thailand area 2,747 years ago as the beginning of their calendar.

New Year's Day is the first day of the Burmese month of Pyathoe, which falls in December and January.

And, dressed in traditional Karen dress, the Sheffield community were determined to celebrate like never before.

First they paid tribute to the flag of their homeland, and were then joined by their guests to listen to a speech by their community chairperson Mr Saw Taw, followed by traditional music and dance and the playing of the ceremonial flute.

Htoo Ku, aged 44, of Firth Park, who works as an interpreter and teaching assistant in schools around the city, said the Karen community were particularly pleased to welcome Lord Mayor Arthur Dunworth to their celebrations.

She said: "This was very special occasion for us. To be able to celebrate our new year without fear of being beaten or arrested is something we never knew before arriving in this country.

"The people of Sheffield have been very welcoming.

"The Lord Mayor's words at our New Year celebrations were very precious to us.

"He spoke about the importance of remembering the people in our homeland who continue to suffer while we are able to enjoy our freedom.

"His words reminded us that though we are now free and able to celebrate our New Year without fear many are not."

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