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Festive shopping, Santa arriving in town and the City Hall tree - take a look back at Christmas in Belfast four decades ago.

But the background to the traditional holiday activities were a little different in 1977 with security checkpoints and army jeeps in the streets.

Ahead of the Christmas lights switch-on this weekend, this Government film shows the festive season during the conflict.

Santa, the tree outside City Hall, and a children's choir are punctuated by reminders that not all is as it should be - army jeeps prowl the streets, and shoppers have their bags searched at security checkpoints.

Watch the clip below:

‘Courtesy British Film Institute and Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive’

More videos at www.digitalfilmarchive.net

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