From the Evening News, February 12, 1993: A WORKMAN lay in agony under 20 tons of scaffolding for over an hour after a horrific accident at the Market Place, Bolton, today.

The market hall section was closed after 27-years-old Sean Mills was pinned under a mountain of scaffolding poles and plans.

The drama began shortly before 2am as workmen were removing the scaffolding ready to be put up elsewhere in the market hall so the decorating contractors could continue.

Firemen battled to release Mr Mills as Paramedics and a special team of doctors and nurses from Bolton Royal Infirmary gave him painkillers. He was rushed to the Infirmary where he is being treated for abdominal injuries.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

February 11, 1978

A MAJOR opencast mine is to open in Atherton, despite the fact that a public inquiry inspector rejected the plans.

The decision of the inquiry said that the National Coal Board should be refused permission to opencast mine a 188-acre site at Millers Lane. But that decision has been overruled by Mr Tony Benn, the Secretary of State for Energy, and the NCB will be told it can go ahead and dig an estimated 570,000 tons a year from the site.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

February 12, 1953

AFTER showing some signs of abating this morning, the blizzard in the North and Midlands was resumed again in full force, making more difficult still the fight to get through to isolated villages.

In Bolton there was a four inch snowfall over night. In Smithy Fold, many men have been working for more than 20 hours to clear the 6ft. drifts between there and Affetside.

Many Affetside residents left their homes before six am to tramp to work through the steadily mounting drifts.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

February 11, 1903

THE arrest of the Rev. M. Otho Fitzmaurice, Vicar of St James' Church, Bolton, which was effected at Birkdale on Tuesday morning, on a series of charges of obtaining money by false pretences, has created in Bolton a considerable sensation. He was formally remanded today, until Thursday week. The Rev. gentleman appeared to realise his position, but was otherwise composed.

ALL readers of the Evening News who are sufferers of rheumatism, gout, or any other form of uric acid ailments, will be glad to know that John A. Smith of London is at present sending, gratuitously, test boxes of what many people have found to be a remarkable remedy for these ailments. It is introduced under the name of Gloria Tonic, and every sufferer must certainly welcome a remedy described as of unquestionable merit.