WHO are these five boys and are they still alive?

These are the questions being posed by Pat and Derek Jewell of Poole.

They found this wonderful, well-preserved, sepia print photograph in the loft of their home in Coy Pond Road.

The lads, all with slicked back hair and dressed up to the nines for the occasion, are almost definitely brothers, possibly aged from six to 12 years.

Mr and Mrs Jewell passed the picture onto their friend Jean Wilson of Highcliffe, who is a Find the Ball competition checker with the Echo, in the hope that she would be able to get it published so they could find out more about it.

The photograph was obviously a cherished possession at some in the past because it had been professionally taken, probably with a backscene, and then mounted on card and framed.

But like many photos, it had been put into store and eventually forgotten.

Perhaps the frame had been broken, or maybe something had happened to one of the brothers; or maybe they just grew up and mum and dad put the picture in the loft.

Certainly the frame is now missing and only part of the mount remains.

It is not clear when the photograph was taken, but it could have been virtually anytime from the turn of the 19th century to about 1930.

Anyone with information should first contact Bob Jolliffe at the Echo's Christchurch office on 01202 480400.