FASCINATING film footage showing snapshots of life and events in Dorset can be seen for the first time.

The Prince of Wales, Prince Albert visiting Dorchester in 1928, presenter Richard Dimbleby propping up a bar in Bridport to interview locals for a documentary from 1951 and Weymouth hosting an Olympic-style event in 1976 are among the pieces in the archive.

The British Film Institute has launched Britain on Film, a new project that reveals hidden histories and forgotten stories of people and places from the key film and TV archives of the UK, including South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA).

There is a wealth of material in the collection from the region. Other fascinating films presenting a look back at the past include the Royal Armoured Corps recruiting at a Weymouth school in 1979, TSW mascot Gus Honeybun at a Royal Navy Christmas parade in the town 1980, Bridport Carnival 1978 and centenary celebrations for Dorchester's Eldridge Pope brewery in 1937.

The archive has gone digital on BFI Player, giving everybody in the UK free access to thousands of film and TV titles about where they live, grew up, went to school, their family, friends – or any subject of interest.

By 2017, thanks to National Lottery funding, and the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, 10,000 film and TV titles from 1895 to the present day will be digitised.

The public can get involved with the project via Twitter and Facebook, with a campaign that has launched which sees 60 films from all over the UK released over 60 days, and special screenings, events and partnerships across the UK.

Also announced is a newly-commissioned film from Penny Woolcock, using this archive material.

Robin Baker, Head Curator, BFI said: "For 120 years cameras have captured almost every aspect of life in the UK on film, but too often these have been inaccessible to all but the most determined researchers. Now Britain on Film is transforming access to films from the UK’s archives and making them available, no matter where you live."

See the films via BFI Player: http://player.bfi.org.uk/britain-on-film