STARS shone brightly over the Atlantic, reflected in the popularity of cruise ships at the time.

It was the only way to travel – airliners were still in their infancy and not widely used.

When Hollywood wanted to visit London, the rich and famous made the journey by grand ocean liner from New York to Southampton.

Those were the days when stars wanted to be seen by their adoring public and were almost always happy to pose for pictures.

Dressed in their finest, they would work their magic in front of cameras as the ships arrived or departed from port.

And it was the Daily Echo’s photographers who were there to capture the moment, often the only snapper allowed access.

These pictures were taken 70 years ago, in 1949, when the country was still in the throes of post-war austerity and the everyday person needed the escapism of cinema and the alluring glamour of Hollywood.