Let there be dragons – Norwich's third festival celebrating these fire-breathing beasts has been launched with the aim of attracting people of all ages to explore our city's history.

The event, which runs until February 23 with a host of dragon-themed events across the city, was officially kicked off yesterday at the Forum by Mike Loveday, chief executive officer of Norwich Heritage and Regeneration Trust (HEART) which co-ordinates the festival. He said: 'It's great because it appeals to the fun things, like fire-breathing dragons, but we've also got these academic lectures regarding the heritage and that's great too.'

Last year's festival helped generate £500,000 for the local economy and attract thousands of people to the city and Mr Loveday hopes this year's festival, the third to be held, will be the best yet – although not the last.

He said: 'We would like to do it every year or every other year if we can get the funding and we've been able to do it this year because the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) and Norwich Town Close Estate Charity have been so good and given us the funding.'

Visit www.heritagecity.org/dragonfestival for details.