From the Evening News, September 8, 1904: TWO suspicious-looking individuals named Herbert Horsfall and Robert Jones appeared before the County Justices this morning, at the instance of the police, for having at Turton Fair been caught gaming by means of what is known as swinging the skittle.

Supt Leeming said the defendants were picking up money wholesale and he thought that although the game was one of skill, the defendants so fixed the board that it was almost impossible for anyone to win anything. The Bench ultimately fined defendants 5s and costs each.

A MOST sensational lynching affair is reported from Huntsville, Alabama. The mob, unable to induce the militia to hand over a negro accused of murdering a pedlar, adopted the plan of lighting fires around the gaol and smoking out the militia in the guard-room. Half-suffocated, the militia were compelled to give in, when the mob took the negro and lynched him

From the Evening News, September 8, 1954: THERE was absenteeism in most Bolton mills today when operatives returned to work after the short September break. The largest number of absentees were married women whose husbands are employed by engineering firms which resume operations tomorrow. "You cannot expect 100 per cent working after the holidays," was the comment from one mill.

THE price of all proprietary brands of brown bread will be reduced on Monday by one halfpenny to 6d for the 14 oz loaf.

From the Evening News, September 8, 1979: A SMALL metal box, the smallest of keyboards and what looks like a portable television set sit on top of two filing cabinets under the main stand at Burnden Park. Together they go to make up the ultimate in crowd control systems. Officials can tell - at the touch of a button - precisely how many spectators are in any one section of the ground. It will increase the safety of the stadium, minimising the risk of a fire going undetected.

HOLIDAYMAKERS expecting a flight to the sun today were facing a drive in the drizzle as a lightning strike continued to cripple Manchester Airport. As all services ground to a halt, sun-seekers were being shipped in coaches to alternative airports such as East Midlands, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds. Problems began last night when 32 senior firemen walked out in support of a 12 per cent pay rise.

From the Evening News, September 8, 1994: BOLTON has a new tourist attraction - the House of Raja's. The family-owned company in Fletcher Street has become a member of the North-west Tourist Board. The Asian store, which features exotic food and spices among other things, has hosted groups of all ages ranging from schoolchildren to pensioners.

BOLTON Institute of Advanced Motorists has warned that "plastered" hospital patients are putting lives at risk. Lyn Entwistle, the Institute's treasurer, said today that over the last few weeks she had seen two people come out Bolton Royal Infirmary with newly-plastered arms, get into their cars and drive off, changing gears and steering with one hand.