THOSE were the days - when policemen walked or cycled their beat.

These revealing pictures from 92 years ago show Southampton's Woolston Division Police on parade.

The first photograph focuses on the policemen - or "Peelers" as they were then still nicknamed - in the station yard.

Picture two shows the Cyclists Corps.

The images are included in the issue of Southampton and District Pictorial dated Wednesday, November 20, 1912.

The newspaper is packed with other interesting snippets of Edwardian life in Hampshire, including the local railway timetable, which mentions stations like Bursledon, Botley and Netley.

For sufferers of gout, rheumatism and sciatica, there was Webb's Gout Specific remedy available from dispensing chemists J Johns & Son at 186 Above Bar Street, Southampton.

One alleged user, a Mr Alf Perry from East Greenwich in London, was so taken with the cure that he felt obliged to write to the shop with a glowing recommendation.

He stated: "I cannot speak too highly of the preparation, in fact it acted like magic - scarcely able to get my foot to the ground, yet within 30 hours had my boot on and back in London, and had no recurrence since.

"Kindly send me by return another bottle (Postal Order enclosed), as I do not feel safe without it in the house."