WHEN W F Tillotson first published the Bolton Evening News he could have little dreamed that the four-page paper, with advertisements filling the front, would still be serving the people of this town 140 years later.

The stories contained in that paper reflected the lives of the people of Bolton and we like to think our pages still do.

The paper has gone through many developments during the course of its history, not least its name change to The Bolton News just last year.

It has more pages than it used to with, of course, much of it printed in colour It has moved office on a number of occasions and, over the years, boasted many achievements. More than any of that though, it has boasted about the achievements of its readers and the town they live in, and, as we celebrate our 140 year history by publishing the first in a series of 10 special supplements today, we also celebrate the past 14 decades of the lives of the people of Bolton.

Throughout that time we have reported on major events such as the two world wars, royal visits, England's 1966 World Cup victory and the successes of Bolton Wanderers, but just as importantly, we have attended village fetes and school sports days and detailed the daily lives of the people who live here.

Technology has moved on during the existence of this paper and will continue to do so. Other papers have come and gone and, with the rise of the internet, the paper itself has had to adapt, creating its own website.

Whatever happens though, in celebrating the past The Bolton News pledges to serve this town well into the future.