From the Evening News, April 22, 1903: A PAINFUL sensation was occasioned in the districts of Breightmet and Tonge on Tuesday evening by the discovery of a very sad suicide, a well-known Breightmet resident, John Eckersley (69), weaver, having hanged himself at the home of his son, Wright Eckersley, 20, Breightmet Fold, Breightmet.

Deceased's son, it appears, left the house on Tuesday morning at about five o'clock to go to work, and on returning at half past six in the evening, he found both the back and front doors locked. On looking through the kitchen window he saw what appeared to be his father's body hanging from the ceiling.

Deceased had not worked for some time as a weaver. He had given music lessons, and had attended the poultry kept by his son. No reason can be ascribed for his rash act. The facts have been reported to the Borough Coroner (Mr Rowland Taylor), who will hold an inquest at the Bull's Head, Breightmet, on Thursday morning.

From the Evening News, April 21, 1993

BOLTON shopping centre was the scene of a wild west shoot out when a bunch of cowboys decided to clean up their town. The gun-toting cowboys rode into Victoria Square on the trail of dirty litter louts who have been fouling up the streets of good ol' Bolton. It is National Spring Clean Week, and the Mayor, Cllr Ernest Crook, was launching a travelling road show designed to encourage people to tidy up their own environment. The cowboy shoot-out was part of the roadshow.

From the Evening News, April 22, 1978

FEARS of "gang warfare" is Smithills High School is made the site of a junior attendance centre, were expressed at a stormy public meeting in Bolton last night. More than 200 people crowded into the main hall in the school to the meeting called by the Bolton Education Authority. The proposed centre would operate on Saturdays for about 70 young offenders, and would be manned by the police. Counc. Denis Priestley, a school governor, said there was a danger of "gang warfare on a grand scale" if the school was used. The final decision on the siting of the centre now lies with the governors of the school, five of whom attended the meeting.

From the Evening News, April 22, 1953

MR Butler's purchase-tax slice, Bolton's Cup Final chance and, later this year, the Coronation, have all combined to give local television dealers a hey-day. One said today: "Business has boomed remarkably since the Chancellor's tax concession". Another warned, however: "If people want to see the Cup Final - its a little more than a week off - they should try and order their sets before this coming Saturday." The most popular model is still the 12in. tube type; few of the 9in. screens are being sold.