AT ABOUT midnight on August 30, 1950, a severe thunderstorm caused widespread damage in Bolton and the surrounding districts and "brought to a climax the worst August since 1930".

Blackburn Road was closed for many hours when subsidence on Astley Bridge made the road unsafe.

When a 30 yard stretch of wall and railings crashed over into the valley, water and gas mains were cut, and electricity and "telephonic communications" disrupted.

The road was left virtually unsupported by the subsidence, near the Railway Hotel.

Hundreds of homes were plunged into darkness, and eight main roads were blacked out.

Immediately before the 1pm news the following day, the BBC -- remember, there were no local radio stations in those days -- broadcast a warning to householders in the Astley Bridge area to ensure that gas was turned off at the meter.

It was also stated that pressure in the rest of the town would be reduced until further notice.

Workmen had been called out in the early hours when the subsidence occurred, to stop the flow of gas from an 18 inch main which was on fire.

The following day they were working on the road, but an official said that they would have to take down a part of the newly laid Blackburn Road before repairs could go ahead.

Things would not be back to normal for at least three weeks.

More than half an inch of rain had fallen in Bolton during the storm, bringing the total for the month to 7.42 inches, the worst since 7.836 inches of rain fell in August, 1930.