These images from our archives show how the punk lifestyle was going strong in Colchester in the late 1970s and into the mid 1980s.

Punk began to arrive in the town from larger cities in the late 1970s when teens started putting together their own bands and then venues from Essex University to the Clarence Pub and Embassy Suite hosted gigs such as the one seen here.

Special Duties, also pictured posing by the town’s iconic Roman walls, was a band formed by Alderman Blaxill pupils at the time.

A number of places including the former Trinity Church in the town centre and the Colne Lodge were also favourite haunts at that time.