Information on the film makers, as well as the format in which the footage was recorded, is included in the resource.

The oldest examples studied were taken in 1897 by French film makers, the Lumiere Brothers, who photographed moving picture scenes in Liverpool. They include the first tracking shot from the city’s Overhead Railway.

Later footage, developed by local film and video makers, includes street scenes, housing and theatre and arts schemes from the 1970s.

Most films are held at the British Film Institute and the Northwest Film Archive, but the database also details those held by private collectors and enthusiasts.

Dr Roberts said he thought the database would appeal to amateur local historians as well as architects planning future building schemes.

He said: "You can also look up which buildings and areas of the city that were the most popular with filmmakers and how that shifts over time. We hope that people will contact us with details of any other films they know about or have themselves so we can include details in the online catalogue."

TO ACCESS pictures in the new City in Film catalogue, log on to: http://www. liv.ac.uk/lsa/cityin film/catalogue.html

SHARE your memories of Liverpool on the Daily Post’s local history blog, Pool of Life, at http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co .uk/pooloflife