ONE of my regular readers, Alice Court of Mealhouse Court, Atherton, has written to tell me that Atherton once produced more nuts and bolts than any other town in Britain.

Firms which used to produce these vital components included Carr & Nichols, Bolton Road, Johnson & Davies, off Bolton Old Road, Prestwich Parker, Prestwich Street, Blakemores, Bag Lane, Bulloughs, Bag Lane and Smiths,Thomas Street.

She says: "Mines, mills - all gone. I hope I have jogged a few memories of some working lives."

No doubt you have, Alice.

It seems that Carr and Nichols provided some of the nuts and bolts for Cunard's Queen Mary.