Laurel and Hardy star in lost landmarks exhibition

An exhibition will offer visitors a chance to step back to a time when Laurel and Hardy were treading the boards.

The comedy greats performed in 1954 at the Palace Theatre in Grimsby, just a year before it closed.

Pictures of their performance will form part of the Lost Landmarks Exhibition at Grimsby Town Hall on Wednesday from 10:00 to 16:00 GMT.

It will also feature other long-gone buildings, including the Gloucester Arms, which had one of the longest bars in England, and the Rialto cinema, which became infamous for a flea infestation.

Adrian Wilkinson, an archivist with Lincs Inspire, said the nostalgic exhibition would present some of Grimsby's most colourful characters, such as "the zookeeper who invited an elephant to his wedding" and the "intrepid female balloonist who took off from People's Park".

Laurel and Hardy toured the UK for the last time in 1954. On 17 May, Hardy had a mild heart attack in Plymouth, forcing the duo to cancel the rest of the dates.

Other lost landmarks to feature in the exhibition will include the Royal Dock Hotel, District Hospital and Queen Victoria Memorial Tower.

Railway-lovers will also be able to enjoy pictures of features including Wellowgate signal box, Weelsby Road underpass and the old Newmarket Street footbridge.

Organisers hope the exhibition will help to highlight the range of materials available to view in public archives in the town hall and central library.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.