An exhibition of hand-painted street advertising is on display at the Kingston Library Museum until the end of August.

Many of the advertisements disappeared from public view as regeneration work was carried out over the decades.

Exhibition curator Louis Sheldon-Williams said: “The idea of the exhibition is to entertain people by taking them back to what I would call a near history in advertising, which has been dubbed ‘commercial archaeology’.

“Advertising goes way back to the dawn of time. Picture a Pharaoh making a proclamation on stone of a service he has done by building a new temple. Take the advertising pictures of different positions on the side of the brothel in Pompeii.

“Those that I show are not more than a hundred years old, and from different countries as well as Britain. People will recognise some well-known brands like Hovis and Nestle.

“I hope that by showing these images I will gain support for the long-term desire of 'Listing', that they may be protected for all time for the interest, amusement, and fascination of future generations.”