From the Evening News, July 14, 1904: THERE was strong evidence at the opening of the Halliwell Ward Labour Institute in Darley Street on Wednesday evening that the Labour party has a zealous band of workers.

Mr J. Edge said the object of the promoters, he believed, was that the working classes might be gathered together in order to discuss topics of the day. He was glad to learn that one of the rules of the institution was that it was to be closed at 10.30 pm. Therefore, no man could visit the place after the public houses were closed.

From the Evening News, July 14, 1954: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: I cannot let the first year of Turton Secondary Modern School come to a close without pointing out what a wonderful difference it has made to our children, both in body and mind. The not-so-clever children can at last hold up their heads and believe they are as good as the next. Well done headmaster and teachers for making these children happy and making them believe they are some use after all. Mrs Calderbank, Stonesteads Way, Bromley Cross.

MR Ernest Thornton, Labour MP for Farnworth, is to visit China in October for about five weeks. He has been invited by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs as a member of a British delegation which will include several other MPs. It will be Mr Thornton's second visit - in 1946, shortly before the Communists took control, he went as a member of the United Kingdom Trade Mission to China.

From the Evening News, July 14, 1979: THE warm weather has brought a boom of business to the newly re-opened Barlow Park cafe in Astley Bridge, Bolton. The cafe is being run by a team of volunteers from the local community development association and all the net profits are to be used towards the running costs of their mini-bus. Old and infirm people are ferried to and from the social centre on the cafe site.

LANCASHIRE'S county cricket championship match with Derbyshire at Liverpool got off to a curious false start today. After three overs from Derbyshire, producing 15 runs including six no-balls and two wides, it was discovered that the wickets were not in line. The umpires called out the ground staff to readjust them and then, after consultation with the two captains, the match was started again.

From the Evening News, July 14, 1994: BOLTON Council is to continue with its ban on stage hypnotists performing in the town. Consumer affairs councillors voted by an 11-1 majority in favour of keeping the controversial ban, which has been in force since 1982. Pressure to dump the local ban had come from a succession of stage hypnotists who wanted to bring their shows to Bolton.

HOME Secretary Michael Howard is considering issuing compulsory identity cards for everyone under the age of 18. The shock proposal has been mooted as a way to stop young people watching violent videos.