From the Evening News, September 23, 1904: AT Wigan yesterday, James Turnbull of Wigan Lane was fined 1s and costs for selling fireworks to youths under 14 years of age.

Turnbull admitted that he sold the fireworks, but said they were 72 for a halfpenny and did not make as much noise as a match.

A GIRL of 16, living in Cincinnatti, has just been committed to the local House of Refuge suffering from wrecked nerves caused by excessive motor-car riding. Her relatives said she was "possessed" of a mania for riding motor-cars and a judge decided that restraint was necessary to cure her.

AFTER being employed for one day in a women's camp on the Humboldt River, Elko, Nevada, a Chinaman hanged himself. According to the New York American his suicide was "due to fright through being alone with so many women."

From the Evening News, September 23, 1954: MR J.G. Whiteford, general passenger manager of Canadian National Railways, who is on a tour to see Europe's latest railway equipment, said at Liverpool today that one of the things that had impressed him most was the punctuality of British trains. "They keep much better to schedule than Canadian trains, which are often delayed waiting for mails," he declared. He said he was surprised by the fact that there was little evidence of wear and tear on Britain's railways - rehabilitation since the war had been remarkable.

THE vicar of St Anne's, Turton, the Rev W. Morgan, has launched a £5,000 appeal to save one of the loveliest churches in Lancashire. Mr Morgan described the church as being riddled inside and out with dry rot and wood worm. The present building was consecrated in 1841 - the same year as Harwood Church - but it is known that worship has taken place on the site for nearly 400 years.

From the Evening News, September 22, 1979: BOLTON-based light-heavyweight Alek Penarski has embarked on a fight programme with the ultimate aim of a match with Bunny Johnson for the British title. Penarski, just turned 26 and looking in great shape, has recently turned full-time professional with lucrative sponsorship from Bio Strath, the health tonic manufacturers. Now ranked number five contender to Johnson's crown, Penarski's full professional status means he can train harder and more frequently.

HOPES that the Beatles pop group might reunite for a concert to benefit the Vietnamese boat people began fading today. Paul McCartney's representatives said rumours which originated in America were untrue. The multi-millionaire musicians, one of the most popular acts in the history of show business, made their last concert tour in 1967 and broke up in 1970.

From the Evening News, September 23, 1994: BOLTON shopkeepers are preparing for the launch of the new National Lottery which will make a millionaire each week. Sale points - equipped with special computer terminals - will start to appear in the town over the coming weeks. Definite lottery points so far include the Late Shop in Wigan Road, Bolton, the Co-op in Market Street, Westhoughton, Price Figher in Bromley Cross and the Co-op in Over Hulton.

THE biggest beer festival in the North-west is the latest casualty of the on-off future of Silverwell Street Sports Centre. Bolton's 8th festival, due to be run by the Greater Manchester region's Campaign for Real Ale, has been cancelled indefinitely. Silverwell Street is currently scheduled for closure at some time during the development of a planned sports centre at Bolton College in Manchester Road.