Placards waved in anger by port workers demonstrating against job cuts are among the 236 acquisitions made by Great Yarmouth Museums in 2009.The largest component was a collection of 91 photographs relating to the offshore industry.

Placards waved in anger by port workers demonstrating against job cuts are among the 236 acquisitions made by Great Yarmouth Museums in 2009.

The largest component was a collection of 91 photographs relating to the offshore industry.

But there were also 42 objects relating to the recent port workers' demonstrations in Great Yarmouth including banners and clothing - evidence of a turbulent period in town life.

Area museums officer James Steward, said: “Great Yarmouth Museums always seeks to collect material that reflects what is happening in the town. The permanent collection should articulate to future generations the events that have shaped the fortunes of the town, and the East Port development has been the subject of an engaging debate for many years.”

Other acquisitions include six objects relating to Lacons, a model of the Lydia Eva, and two bibles which belonged to a prominent local family. The acquisition of a pierhead painting of Willemina by an unknown artist is said to complement the existing collection.

The loan of a Mantis submersible similar to one featured in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only designed and developed by a Great Yarmouth company helped to emphasise the town's role as an important centre for the offshore oil and gas industry.