THE BUILDER who discovered the “lost films of the Kursaal” has told of how the films were saved with just moments to spare.

Michael Collins, 55, of Felwyn Road, Southend, was working as a builder at two properties opposite the Kursaal when he made the important find in 2006.

The properties had previously belonged to Jay Morehouse, who was the last owner of the Kursaal Amusement Park.

He said: “Someone I knew had bought two houses in an auction which used to belong to Jay Morehouse.

“We were refurbishing them and ripping them all out to do up.

“There was a really big old empty swimming pool in one of the garages.

“We were holding a bonfire in there to get rid of a lot of the old debris and rubbish which had accumulated in the house.

“My friend was burning things and I asked him what he was burning and he said “old films”.

“I was horrified and told him to stop burning them and then I collected them all up and brought them home.”

After finding the films Mr Collins decided to find out what was on them and bought a projector so he could watch them.

When he managed to play them he could not believe his eyes - he had found original footage filmed by Mr Morehouse in the Kursaal.

He said: “I could not believe it, it was the Kursaal and the seafront and all of the people who were visiting them.

“The footage was beautiful.

“I just thought, “people are going to want to see this”.

“The films are so interesting to so many people who would have visited the area or lived in the town. “It was just incredible to see them brought to life again.

“I used to go down to the Kursaal myself and it was like stepping back in time.

“I remember it well; going down as a youngster and seeing it all and going round the Kursaal.”

Mr Collins was delighted he could save the films - which are due to go on view for the first time in public as part of the Southend Film Festival - for future generations.

He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that I saved the films - a few moments later and they might have been gone forever.

“I just thought people might like to see them.

“I’m just so glad I saved them so people can enjoy them.”

“They really are something so special.”