OUR picture feature looking at Southend town centre through the years certainly captured the imagination of our readers.

We have delved back into the picture archive of the Echo and its sister paper, the Southend Standard, to uncover more pictures of the High Street in years gone by.

Street scenes vary from traders in top hats posing outside shops in 1881 to shoppers visiting Caters supermarket nearly a century later.

Echo: Festive best – Christmas decorations in Southend High Street. The scene includes the former Lipton Stores site, and the mainline railway line in the background

Echo: Southend High Street in December 1977. Shops include Lilley and Skinner Shoes

Echo: Sixties – the High Street in 1969. Shops include Smarts furniture and Dewhurst butchers

Echo: Southend town centre in 1905

Echo: A salt water main being laid Southend High Street 1937

Echo: Southend High Street in January 1976, including Caters Supermarket

Echo: Heritage – The Royal Hotel in Southend High Street. The Grade II listed building was built in 1791.