OLD pictures of Castle Park, Eld Lane and East Hill show Colchester as it was in the '70s and '80s.

Almshouses in Eld Lane had yet to be transformed into shops, there was no industrial metal barrier lining the bridge in East Street and the boats on Castle Park boating lake were just boats, not swans.

Some shops, like Innes Cole, have stood the test of time and Eld Lane is still a hive of activity in the town centre.

Click through the picture gallery to see if you can spot any of your old favourite shops, or even some familiar faces.