A UNIQUE collection of negatives belonging a well-known North-east photographer are to be preserved for future generations.

Jimmy Forsyth, 87, has been taking photographs of Newcastle for more than 50 years.

Thousands of negatives, showing the changing face of the city will be added to the city's archives and members of the public will be able to view a large collection of the prints at Benwell Library.

Mr Forsyth, who moved to Newcastle from Wales, worked as a fitter but lost an eye in an accident. He spent his compensation money on a box brownie camera and began recording the changes around him.

His flat in Cruddas Park overlooks what is left of Scotswood Road. The many pubs, shops rows of houses and the people who lived there have now gone but their world can still be seen in Mr Forsyth's images.

An exhibition of his work at Newcastle's Side Gallery two years ago prompted The Daily Telegraph to describe his portraits as "unsurpassed in the history of British photography."

Liz Rees, chief archivist at Benwell Library, said: "This is a very important collection which chronicles the many changes in the city over the past 50 years.

"We are very pleased to be able to preserve it properly."