Early film footage of west Dorset captured by the pioneering photographer Claud Hider makes for fascinating viewing.

In this cine film footage posted by local historian Neil Mattingly on YouTube you can see the resort of West Bay ablaze on February 19, 1929.

Hider must have been busy filming and taking photos at the time of the fire and The Bridport News reported on the incident.

Four homes were destroyed in the devastating blaze but luckily no-one was injured.

Above and below, you can see two postcards of the fire, from photos taken by Hider, who was filming and taking photos at the same time.

You can watch the video here:

The newspaper report on the incident reads: "A disastrous fire occurred on Tuesday morning at West Bay, when two houses in Pier-Terrace and two cottages were destroyed:--No. 9, Pier-terrace, owned by Lady lda Fitzmaurice; no.10 Pier Terrace owned by Mr. Edgar S. Howard, deputy coroner for West Dorset, and tenanted by Mrs. Evans, a cottage owned by Major Conrad Russell, but unoccupied; and a cottage occupied by Miss Hitchcock.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: The 1929 fire at West Bay from a Claud Hider postcard The 1929 fire at West Bay from a Claud Hider postcard

"Flames were seen by Mr. and Mrs. Chorley, of the Bridport Arms, issuing from 10, Pier-terrace, and the fire brigade (under Chief Officer Atherton) was summoned as did a detachment of police under Supt. Beck.

"Some furniture was got out of Miss Hitchcock's cottage, and also Mrs. Miller's house close by, which escaped.

"Mrs Evans sustained injuries, and required the attention of Dr. Oliphant. This lady and her four children were taken to the houses of friends by the Rev. Father Scanlon."

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: Devastation caused by the fire Devastation caused by the fire

There are now more than 1,000 different films by Claud Hider.

Mr Mattingly was shown them by Hider's grandson Peter, who inherited a large box of cine film from his grandfather dating back to the 1930s.

Mr Mattingly said: "No one had seen them since they were taken and I felt it my duty to record them for posterity before they were lost. I managed to find a fellow enthusiast at Beaminster who kindly spent many days cleaning and repairing them before digitising them.

"Unfortunately I did not find any of Charmouth amongst them, which was a shame as he took plenty of Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis. The majority last a few minutes and relate to him and his family, often on holiday as far as Margate and Torquay. I have placed some of the better ones on my You Tube channel."

You can find the films at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpDbsSLw28_Uoz_NkscYBRQ or by searching for 'YouTube Neil Mattingly'