From the Evening News, August 24, 1904: THE Mayor drew attention at the fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians to the increase in pauperism.

He said there were nearly 100 more in the Workhouse this week than the same period last year and 500 more in receipt of outdoor relief. Trade was bad, especially in the cotton industry, and he understood it was worse than it had been for many years. They were now only in the middle of the summer and he looked with great dread on the coming winter.

A hot brick placed in a bed was the cause of a slight fire at Blackburn on Tuesday. An elderly woman, whom fright had unnerved, was carried to a place of safety by a policeman.

From the Evening News, August 24, 1954: BOILERMAN Thomas Roberts, Moyse Avenue, Walshaw, Bury, was shovelling refuse into the boiler in the town's yard yesterday when there was an explosion and a bullet whistled past his head. A cartridge case was recovered and handed to Bury police. Today, the Cleansing Department authorities asked householders not to put bullets or dangerous objects in their refuse.

Mr Harold Turner, Bury's Director of Public Cleansing, said: "We have had hand grenades and cannon shells in the past and there have been a number of bullets from time to time.

BOLTON Cleansing Committee is considering plans for developing its Wellington Yard depot with garage accommodation, workshops, offices and amentities for Cleansing Department employees. Originally it was planned to build all these on its new site at Raikes Lane.

From the Evening News, August 24, 1979: BOLTON'S biggest-ever Arts Festival, which has cost about £19,000 and six months' hard work to organise, was officially opened at the Craft Market in Silverwell Street Sports Centre today. The Festival is the most prestigious celebration of the arts Bolton has ever seen and commemorates the 200th anniversary of Samuel Crompton's invention of the spinning mule. After a short speech by the Festival chairman, Cllr Denis Priestley, the Mayor, Cllr Mrs Betty Hamer, declared the celebrations officially open and promised "a wonderful week" for the people of Bolton.

RICHARD Hearne - "Mr Pastry" - died last night, aged 70, at his home in Maidstone, Kent. He was an internationally-known actor whose famous character never showed his real age.

"A Life in Time" is the title of a play to be produced tomorrow evening at the Seymour Road Theatre Church, Astley Bridge. Written by the minister, the Rev A. Dennis Burton, the play centres on the early days of Wesleyan Methodism in Bolton during the life of Samuel Crompton and the Industrial Revolution.

From the Evening News, August 24, 1994: BOLTON animal rights activists are celebrating the news that a controversial zoo is to close. The fate of Haigh Hall mini zoo was sealed after council chiefs learned it would cost more than £500,000 to refurbish. The news comes four months after a BEN investigation revealed that many animals at the Wigan centre were living in appalling conditions.

ARTS, crafts, comedy, music and dance will be performed in Bolton's town centre precinct at the weekend - and the entertainment will all be free. Bolton's Mini-Festival includes a five-day Open Air Art Exhibition on Newport Street and a Victorian Street Fair around Le Mans Crescent on Monday.