THESE archive images take us back to bygone days when a works outing would be the highlight of the working year.

Factories and businesses across Colchester, and country, would shut down for the day and hard working staff into charabancs to head off to the countryside or seaside.

They would also regularly pose for group photographs, seen here at the gas works and the Colchester Pure Ice and Storage Company and whilst hard at work to promote where they worked.

Among those who would often take staff on a day out were the many clothing factories in Colchester.

Also here are vintage memories of the Colchester Oyster Feast a century ago.