Take, for example, the trio pretending to be fridges and cookers in the Bargate area of Southampton. Snapped in 1989, the Friends of the Earth campaigners were demanding better labelling of electrical appliances to help people make more environmentally-friendly choices.

The previous year Friends of the Earth were in Winchester dressed as aerosol cans – much to the amusement of the youngsters pictured.

Romsey residents went barmy for beds in 1985 when they raced through the town's streets in their beds. It's not every day you see adults dressed as babies being carted down the road by men in nightdresses.

Romsey Carnival Bed Race. 26th July 1983. © THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO ARCHIVES. Ref - 387j

There are also shots of campaigners demanding better roads during a 1979 Winchester bike rally, rubbish-collecting on Weston Shore in 1981 and an anti-whaling protest in 1978.

Also featured is a civilian in the rain during a gas mask drill in 1941, a very small Guy Fawkes effigy in Southampton precinct in 1981 and an odd-looking couple at Hamble Carnival in 1948.

Civilians go out in the rain during the gas mask drill in April 1941. THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO ARCHIVES. HAMPSHIRE HERITAGE SUPPLEMENT. Ref: 135z

During the 15-day heatwave in 1976, the Echo canteen ladies attempted to fry an egg on the pavement outside the office. In In1973 students dressed as horses pulled chariots along on their bikes as part of the Rag Week procession.