THE 1970s in Britain were renowned for their strikes and in December 1974 the nation’s bakers decided to switch off their ovens and join the picket lines in search of a 66 per cent rise in pay.

Hot on the heels of the bread shortage that followed the strike, housewives across the Southampton kept their men fed by learning the art of bread making.

These ladies pictured in this Hampshire Heritage photograph were among about 40 who enrolled in a short course of do-it-yourself bread-making lessons that were arranged by the Food Trades Department at Southampton City College.

Under the expert tuition of City College lecturer Leslie Morse, pictured, the ladies would turn up with their ingredients and after much kneading and baking the women would, it was hoped, be able to leave with a culinary masterpiece.