The night shift is not one that everyone enjoys, working unsociable hours and staying awake through the night. In this gallery we remember the night shift at the Betabake Bread factory in 1973.

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

Based in Whitehouse Road, the night shift workers would be instrumental in getting fresh bread into the local shops around Ipswich and the wider area for the morning, and onto breakfast tables across Suffolk.

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

Thousands of loaves of bread would be produced each night.

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

These pictures show the varying stages of the overnight process, from baking and packaging to eventually loading it on to the lorries ready for delivery.

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

Of course it wasn’t just bread that was being produced at the factory, but also confectionary and pastries, all of which were prepared and individually boxed by staff members throughout the night.

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

Did you work for Betabake or have any relatives that used to work at the factory?

Ipswich Star: Packing up the baked goodsPacking up the baked goods (Image: Archant)

To share your memories with us, email our picture desk.