Preston in 1980: Britain's recession and Olympic glory

The Post are turning back the clock with a new photographic series revisiting Preston throughout the 1980s, one year at a time. From the everyday to the extraordinary, our archive pictures capture the people, places and moments that made the decade. We begin with 1980.

It was the year Margaret Thatcher's government grappled with recession and rising unemployment, steelworkers went on strike and the SAS stormed the Iranian Embassy. Britain celebrated Olympic gold for Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, while the murder of John Lennon shocked the world.

But what was happening closer to home? This was Preston in 1980...

13. Water garden

Avenham Park, Preston, flooding on October 27 1980 sent in by reader Ken Chapman. The Ribble and railway bridge can be seen in the background | User (UGC)

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14. Emmanuel Street

Emmanuel Street in Plungington was not going through great times when this photo was taken in 1980 The image kindly provided by Brian Bell courtesy of Paul Swarbrick and Gillian Lawson of the Preston Historical Society. www.prestonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/ | Other 3rd Party