10 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, December 5, 1998 A drink-drive telephone hot-line will help keep Bolton’s roads safe this Christmas.

Bolton police traffic unit has set up the hot-line again following a successful trial during last year’s anti drink-driving campaign. Police believe the telephone hot-line will help trap totally irresponsible motorists who ignore all the publicity and warnings.

25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, December 5, 1983 A school’s plan to give local people a chance to go on a pre-Christmas shopping spree, looks like going off the rails.

Only half the seats on a London-bound train, chartered to Westhoughton Comprehensive School have been booked so far. Instead of making a healthy profit, the school stands to lose at least £500.

50 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, December 5, 1958 Granada programmes from Manchester, hit last night by a lightning strike of 16 technicians, will be affected again to-night. This time more than 100 men, including directors, producers, script writers and technicians are to stage a strike at 11pm.

Executives at the Granada studios held emergency talks about making stop-gap plans for programmes, and officials were in constant touch with the Independent Television Authority in London.

100 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, December 5, 1908 At Wrexham yesterday, James Cook sen., and James Cook jun., and John Cook, travelling showmen, were committed for trial charged with shooting 15 people. George Cook and Betsy Cook, who were brought up on a similar charge, were dismissed. It was submitted the accused did not intend to hurt anybody.