Today's peaceful street scene at Norwich's Argyle Street is a world away from the striking images that document the end of a long-standing community of squatters 30 years ago.

December 6, 1979 saw the first squatters set up home and the Argyle Street Alternative Republic was born. It became a place of shared living and communal spirit where lamp posts were decorated as giraffes and pavements were decorated with rainbows and peace signs.

The squatters formed a co-operative but, left without necessary resources, the council decided to demolish and redevelop the area. On February 20, 1985 the alternative society was broken up and the demolition team moved in.

Retired film-maker Al Stokes caught on camera the final hours of the Argyle Street squatters community, and he is re-releasing his film on YouTube to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Alternative Republic of Argyle Street.

Mr Stokes, who lives in West Earlham, said he decided to make his documentary - called Street of Experience - because he wanted to show the full story of the squatters

Mr Stokes and his film crew spent the night of February 19, 1985 at Argyle Street and the day of February 20, 1985 at the scene, filming the last night party and the morning the demolition crew moved in.

About the film, he said: 'It's a little bit of social history. It is an important piece of social history, and nobody else made a film like Street of Experience.'

He said: 'People who lived or used to live on the street had a big party, the last night party.

'There were people talking about the street and why they were on the street, the fact they were going to miss it.'

He added: 'The squatters knew the council was going to demolish the street so they started demolishing the street themselves.'

The original Street of Experience film was 24 minutes long, but has been cut to 17 minutes for its YouTube re-release and features music by Matt Adey.