A FEW weeks ago, I featured photos showing the closure of shops around the New Market Square in preparation for the building of Festival Place.

Most of the shops began to close around May and June 1998 with building work getting started later that year.

While I have been working with the Gazette team to find interesting bits and pieces from Basingstoke past, these photos were found by chance in a cardboard box in an empty office at the Pelton Road offices.

With thanks to the original photographers.