Liverpool's James Street underground station reveals its hidden secrets (VIDEO & GALLERIES)

Feb 14 2013 Story: Jamie Bowman - Video: Dan Kay - Pics: Gareth Jones and Mike Price, Liverpool Echo

BUILDERS working on the refurbishment of James Street station have revealed a fascinating glimpse into the past life of Liverpool's commuters.

Advertising posters – some of which date back more than 50 years – have been uncovered by workmen re-tiling the station's floors and surrounding corridors as part of the £40m improvements being made by Network Rail to the Merseyrail loop line.

Work at James Street Station has unearthed old posters. Pics Gareth Jones & Ida Husøy

Feb 14 2013

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In an image which could be straight from hit US TV drama Mad Men an advert from the early 1960s urges smokers to enjoy “the perfection of cigarette luxury” while other posters promote plays and a ballet performance at Liverpool's Royal Court theatre.

Tommy Ainscough, a concrete finisher for contractor Morgan Sindall, said: “We expected to find something down here but we were surprised to find so many that we could actually read.

“Some of them are covered in very thick layers of other posters so it's very hard to guess how old they are.

“We got a proper shock when we pulled all of the rotting paper back and saw a picture of Ken Dodd and his Diddy Men.”

More on the next page, including a nostalgia gallery of Liverpool's underground stations through the years >>>>>