'Remember me, they seem to be saying' - Moving photographs of Salford lives in the 1970s and '80s

A captivating collection of portrait photographs offers a glimpse into people's lives in Salford from years past.

These images were captured by Eccles-born Martin O'Neill, who started his professional photography career in 1978, working for the Sale and Altrincham Messenger. After being made redundant in 1982, Martin joined the Manchester Evening News, where he spent 18 years as one of our freelance photographers.

Martin previously shared with the M.E.N: "As a photographer with the M.E.N I got to cover every sort of assignment, from cheque presentations to royal visits, from fires and road-accidents to first-night parties. I used to meet celebrities on a regular basis, and have photographed everyone from Dame Edna and Muhammad Ali to Margaret Thatcher and George Best."

"I loved the unpredictability and excitement of the job, and the places and people it gave me access to. Manchester was so 'happening' in the '80s, and I can honestly say there was nothing I disliked about working in such an exciting city."

"There are many of my shots that I've been proud of over the years, but the thrill of being a press photographer on a daily newspaper meant that your 'favourites' only lasted 24 hours before you were out working to find the next."

After leaving the M.E.N in 2000, Martin transitioned into wedding photography and took on assignments for other newspapers, magazines and PR companies. Now residing in France, he's turned his 'hobby' photography into several published books.

His latest collections contain 146 photographs of intimate, and often moving, portrait photography taken in and around his home-town of Eccles from the mid-1970s to the early '80s.

"I feel, because of the 'eye-to-eye' contact, there is a real connection