Hundreds of photographs hang to dry at a laboratory, fragile reminders of birthday celebrations and summer vacations nearly swept away by last year's deadly floods in Spain.

But thanks to a university-led initiative, many of these memories have been rescued from ruin.

Decked in white lab coats and masks to protect themselves from mold and other contaminants, a group of students at a laboratory at Valencia's Polytechnic University carefully clean and restore photos.