THE Electric Palace in Harwich has survived two world wars, devastating floods and the threat of demolition.

But, in 1975, a group was set up that would turn around the fortunes of the cinema.

In April 1975, the Electric Palace Trust held its first meeting and outlined its plans to restore the building and reopen it for the public.

The cinema opened in November 1911 and was the brainchild of Charles Thurston, a travelling showman.

It enjoyed success throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but closed in 1956 and soon fell into disrepair until it was rediscovered in a town study by Gordon Miller and the students of Kingston Polytechnic.

At the time, the council had planned to demolish all the buildings in the area and build a lorry park instead.

It reopened in 1981 and now runs as a community cinema showing films every weekend, as well as hosting live music and live streaming of events.