FAMILIES from Blackbird Leys packed into the Leys Linx Centre over the weekend to see the history of their estate in pictures.

The project - part of the Blackbird Leys 50th anniversary celebrations - featured prints depicting all aspects of life from the estate.

The walls of the centre were transformed into a colourful pictorial history, showing building work and the estate's first inhabitants, community events and royal visits.

So far more than 500 images have been collected - far more than could be displayed on the centre's walls.

But a special multi-media exhibition allowed visitors to look at all the photographs on a big screen along with archive film footage.

The images have been provided by past and present residents and from our picture library. Images were also used to create outlines for children to colour in and the colourful artwork will be displayed as part of a final exhibition next month.

Pegasus Road resident Maxine Charlett said: "I thought it was a fantastic idea to display the history of Blackbird Leys and the growth of the community.

"My favourite image is a bird's eye view of Blackbird Leys before the estate was finished."

Organiser Jim Barlow said the collection was still a work-in-progress and throughout the weekend more images were donated.

The project is set to culminate in December with a week-long exhibition and the unveiling of a new mosaic to celebrate the estate's 50th birthday.

Mr Barlow said: "We started the collection in May, but a hard drive crashed and we had to start all over again in September and rescan everything.

"Lots of the people in pictures from years ago have come along today - you can follow them through the photos.

"Everyone has really loved it."

Mr Barlow said the group had collected pictures from all walks of life - but he made a special appeal for more pictures of the Cowley car works.

Volunteers are also putting the finishing touches to a huge mosaic, which will depict a hot air balloon with '50' emblazoned on the side soaring above the estate.

The mosaic will be unveiled on December 15.