They are still mates. The glint of fun in their eyes is unforced and there is no hint of the rancour that is shortly to descend.

These are images of The Beatles as most of their fans would like to remember them - and they have never been seen by the public before.

The Scottish photographer, Tom Murray, took them while assisting the legendary Don McCullin on a photo-shoot which became known as the Mad Day Out, during a break from recording the White Album at Abbey Road studios in London. He then locked them away for 30 years.

From two rolls of film there are 23 surviving shots which are to be made available, released over three volumes, as Signed Limited Editions of 195 each. Mr Murray will appear at the Park Gallery in Glasgow next Thursday to launch the collection and discuss the images.

One of the photos eerily depicts John Lennon lying on the floor pretending to be dead, whilst another depicts Paul McCartney fooling around at a water fountain.

"I just feel privileged that I was part of this historical day, getting close to The Beatles was a dream come true and I believe the timing is right to share my special collection," Mr Murray said last night.

Pete Nash, of the British Beatles Fan Club, said the collection would be a must-have for any Beatles fan or pop memorabilia collector. "Mad Day Out would be one of the last occasions that all four Beatles were photographed together relaxed in each other's company with smiles on their faces - and so all the more precious for that," he said.

"The group is spending quality time together, away from the pressures of work with no hint of the personal and business difficulties to come." Christie's appraised Mr Murray's original colour slides of The Mad Day Out at £50,000 each for all of the 23 surviving slides, totalling £1.16m.

The locations for the shoot - in a park at Highgate, a house at Swain's Lane, outside Old Street Station and a Georgian square by the Thames Docks - were all random and less obvious to avoid the group attracting crowds.

One shot included a homeless man sleeping on a park bench. He never woke while the photos were being taken. After the shoot Mr Murray was invited back to McCartney's home for tea, where the last photographs were taken.

At 25, Mr Murray was the youngest photographer to be commissioned by the Royal Family. He served his apprenticeship with Lord Snowdon and has worked with some of the greatest photographers ever, including Helmet Newton, Norman Parkinson, Eve Arnold and Bill Connors.