FROM the hustle and bustle of the market hall to the steam power of the railway, via the humdrum of the day-to-day and the heart-in-mouth action of the Nab Gate races, residents are being invited to take trip down memory lane as part of an extraordinary series of film screenings.

Bury Cine Society is rolling out a collection of incredible films which bring to life the town over the decades for three double-header shows next month.

The free to attend events will be held on Wednesdays at Bury Library and Archives and will explore over 400 years of civic history.

Roy Turner, chairman of Bury Cine Society, said: “These films show how Bury was in the 1960s and 70s so people will be able to get an idea of how much it has changed and what was going at that time.

“They were shot on standard 8mm colour chrome film and there’s some quite remarkable shots.

“When they were made they were not of any real historical interest, rather to show the town to the people who lived there at the time.

“But over the last 50 years they have become quite historically valuable because Bury has changed so much.”

The first double header ­— Bury in the 60s and 70s ­— will be held on December 4. Bury in the 60s is an 82 minute feature of extracts from the society’s popular Newsreels including the races at Nab Gate, The Lido, the First Lions’ Carnival and the 1966 Whit Walks.

It also offers a last glimpse of the “old town” – such as Princess Street, Jopsons and the Derby Hotel ­— before it was swept away by bulldozers.

; as well as dramatic shots of the burning of the 1968 Market Hall fire.

Dating from 1972, the second film was commissioned by the old County Borough Council to tell centuries old history of Bury’s iconic market.

Then on December 11 the second double-feature will see the films Portrait of Wednesday and Our Town.

Filmed in 1964, Portrait of Wednesday follows a host of residents including an engineer, a student nurse and a reminiscing pensioner as they go about their daily lives.

Our Town was the first film made by Bury Cine Society and details many now long gone aspects of the town, from major industries to ‘Blind Ernie’ at the corner of Kay Gardens.

Finally on December 18 the third screening will feature films exploring the borough’s railway heritage. Tickets are free but must be booked from Eventbrite.

The first film ­— Return to Lancashire ­— follows the triumphs of the East Lancashire Railway preservation group as they succeeded in reopening the historic lines.

The second ­— Big Steam on the East Lancs ­— showcases some of the iconic engines which have thundered along the heritage attractions lines, and been overhauled in its sheds.

However there will also be a third bonus short film showing of The Last Freight to Tottington. Made in 1963 the film follows a special outing for locals and enthusiasts commemorating the last train on the Bury Bolton Street to Tottington line before it closed down the day after.

At each event the first screening will start at 11am and the second at 2pm. There will be a 20 minute intermission between each showing and free tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.

DVDs of the films will also be available to purchase.

For more information visit bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15038.