From the Evening News, January 23, 1904: EXTENSIVE damage has been done by fire this morning to the Horrobin Mills, Turton, the property of the executors of the late Miss Appleton.

A considerable quanity of work was in the various departments and although some of this was saved, much was either destroyed by fire or injured by water. In all there are over 200 persons employed and about half of these will be seriously affected. The damage cannot be accurately estimated, but is expected to run well into four figures. It is not many months since the Quarlton Vale Mills were closed and the many hands employed thrown out of work and now there will be a further dearth of employment. The last serious mill fire the Bottoms was that which occured several years ago at Messrs Booth's Wellington Mills, which were completely destroyed. The damage done at Horrobin Mills will take some considerable time to repair and it is anticipated that some months must elapse before all the hands will be able to resume their work.

THE Oldham Corporation yesterday decided to pay a bill of £6 for drinks. The drinks, in the form of ale, were taken by five haymakers who last summer spent 13 days mowing five acres of grassland in the park.

From the Evening News, January 23, 1954: AT its meeting this week Bolton Transport Committee decided to propose the abolition of workmen's fares and a full revision of all bus fares.

Mr Harold Boardman, Labour MP for Leigh, is to ask the Secretary to the Treasury on Tuesday whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused in the Manchester district due to the shortage of sixpences and shillings.

MORE than 21,000 people visited the Bolton Health Exhibition in the Art Gallery and nearly 4,000 of them took the opportunity to have a chest X-ray.

From the Evening News, January 23, 1979: MORE than 150 public service workers marched on Bolton Town Hall during their one day strike. The marchers, including dustmen, school meals staff and caretakers, gathered at the Spinners Hall in St George's Road and walked through the town with banners. Mr Ken McIvor, branch secretary of the General and Municipal Workers" Union, said: "We are asking the leaders of the council to support us in our claim for decent pay for all local authority workers."

BOLTON Council's Chief Executive, Mr Brian Scholes, is still confined to bed after being hurt in a road accident a few days before Christmas. Mr Scholes, of Turton, was struck by a car while walking on a zebra crossing in Horwich and suffered a severe leg fracture. He is keeping in close touch with current events and has frequent talks with the leader of the council, Cllr John Hanscomb and Mr David Hoggins, Director of Administration, who has taken charge during his absence.

From the Evening News, January 22, 1994: NORTH West businesses are coming through the recession better than anywhere else in Britain. The claim has come from Employment Minister Michael Forsyth and Bury South Tory MP David Sumberg. Mr Forsyth revealed in the Commons that more than 250,000 people had been found work by Jobcentres in the region in the last year.

POLICE officers are becoming more polite, attentive and competent, according to a new survey. "The police are making special efforts to improve their quality of service and it seems to be paying dividends," said Home Secretary Michael Howard.