Crawley celebrates 70 years since chosen as new town

On this day in 1947 - seventy years ago - Crawley was chosen as one of eight new towns to be built outside London.

Plans were drawn up for nine new neighbourhoods between the villages of Three Bridges, Ifield and the then small market town of Crawley.

For many, it was a chance to move to the country and escape from the heavily bombed, and overcrowded, capital city.

Charles Minoprio is the son of the architect who drew up the master plan for Crawley New Town:

Abigail Bracken's report also includes Pathe News footage from 1958, along with an interview with the Mayor of Crawley, Cllr Raj Sharma. But a warning, her report contains some flashing images.