TIMES certainly have changed – judging by these beauty contest pictures from bygone days in Bolton.

While beauty pageants continue to divide opinion, the pictures used to illustrate such contests by family newspapers have been toned-down somewhat in the past few decades.

With Westhoughton’s Lucy Physick and Kearsley’s Christina Cunningham currently the reigning Miss Lancashire and Miss North West respectively, we decided to have a look though the archives at previous competitions.

The sheer breadth of pageants back in the 1970s and 1980s was among the most remarkable aspects of a browse through our photo files.

While Miss UK and Miss Bolton pictures featured prominently, there was also a multitude of images relating to beauty pageants held by all manner of local businesses – everything from bingo halls and hardware stores to paint manufacturers and dye factories.

There were plenty of celebrities getting in on the judging too. Including various Wanderers stars and Bolton snooker ace, Tony Knowles.

The frequency with which Manchester United’s Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath judged competitions seemed puzzling, until we realised various contests were being held at captain marvel Bryan Robson’s piano bar in Radcliffe.

Have a look through the gallery. What are your memories of Bolton’s once-thriving beauty pageant scene? Maybe you recognise an old flame – or even yourself?

Find out more about Bolton's latest beauty queens here