Two films showing our town 40 years apart are the main attractions for this year’s Dover Film Festival.

And there will also a short interval film in tribute to news photographer, the late Eddie Clapson.

The event starts at the town’s Silver Screen cinema on Sunday (March 5).

Festival organiser Mike McFarnell says: “The festival is a very important record of the social history of Dover town and its events over 60 years.

The 35-minute Dover Film 1976 shows scenes such as a visit by a young Prince Charles and the opening of Dover Sports Centre in Townwall Street.

In addition there is footage of Miss Dover that year, ferries leaving the docks and hang gliding over the cliffs.

It is scripted and narrated by Terry Sutton, journalist and Honorary Freeman of Dover, and directed by the late Ray Warner who originally started the festival in 1947.

The 57-minute Dover Film 2016 is directed by Mr McFarnell.

It features Kelly Turner, the teenager with a rare cancer that Dover people are fundraising for, and Black Saturday, the gridlocking of traffic in the town on July 23 because of French border control delays.

Another landmark event shown is the St James’ retail and leisure development off Townwall Street.

It addition the film includes the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, scenes from the EU Referendum count in the Town Hall and the 50th anniversary celebrations for the electrical equipment firm Megger.

Ceremonial events shown include the the Cinque Ports Speaker’s Day parade in October, which was struck by a downpour.

The 10-minute interval film has some of the stunning photographs taken by Mr Clapson who died in 2012, aged 71.

He had worked for the Dover Express, for 17 years before becoming a freelance and regularly supplying material for the Mercury.

He covered many major stories for the area including the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise, whose 30th anniversary is this week, and the IRA bombing of the Deal Royal Marines barracks.

The festival was previously held in Dover Town Hall to the Silver Screen whose digital projector produces better quality images.

The same films are being shown repeatedly throughout the festival so that as many people as possible can come into the small 70-seater cinema.

Material for next year’s film Festival is already being sought so those organising events in 2017 should email organisers (address below) if they think theirs should be included.

The 2017 Dover Film Festival Starts on Sunday and continues until Thursday, March 9.

Screening times are 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and 11am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm on the Monday and Wednesday.

It is at the Silver Screen Community Cinema in Market Square.

Tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for senior citizens and £2 for adults.

They are available from Dover Visitor Information Centre at Market Square, telephone 01304 205108 or email doverfilmfestivals@gmail.com.