A COMMUNITY history group has been busy creating an online archive of old pictures.

Hadleigh and Thundersley Community Archive received a £10,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund grant in January.

Since then, the group of local history enthusiasts have been scanning pictures, postcards and other collectables handed to them by residents to create a digital record. David Hurrell, from the Community Archive, said: “We haven’t spent all the money yet, and some has been left over for the scanning.

“This has allowed us to use a professional scanner in London.”

He said: “It’s hard graft, but the results can be exciting. It’s very surprising what you can find.

“We’re anxious to share the results with everyone.”

The next stage involves researching and cataloguing the images, with a view to making them widely available to the public, both online through the Community Archive websites and in printed publications.

A number of these images have already been reproduced in the group’s latest book, Thundersley&Daws Heath – A History, by Robert Hallmann.

There is still an opportunity for people to loan their own collections or items of historic interest, whether these be vintage postcards or family album snaps depicting the family life of their ancestors.

Graham Cook, co-author of two books about Salvation Army history and spokesperson for the Community Archive, said: “Anything that illuminates what town and village life was like in our parents and grandparents time is ‘grist to the mill’.

“We will scan, to a professional standard, any item loaned to us, document its history and faithfully return the original, together with the digital file.

“We can even offer a ‘while you wait’ service, when appropriate, and free professional retouching and restoration. This is a great opportunity for ordinary folk to help preserve the history of their area for future generations.”

If you would like to offer pictures to be scanned, or wish to help in any way, or would like to to be notified of activities and events, contact the group via hadleighhistory.org.uk or call Hadleigh library on 01702 559676.