From the Evening News, 1993: A BAN on smoking in public places should be brought in by the Government . . . say Bolton smokers.

That's the starting result of a survey the Evening News conducted after a woman was awarded £15,000 by her employers when she claimed she contracted bronchitis due to passive smoking at work. Many local people recognised the dangers caused to the health of non-smokers by smoking in public places, especially in confined areas like offices, shops and on public transport.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 29, 1978

A MAJOR row has erupted between Bolton Council and a teachers' union which has refused to call off classroom sanctions. Bolton teachers are split on a Council peace formula to end the 11 months old dispute. NUT members have accepted the deal, which could mean an extra 74 teaching jobs in the area. They have suspended their action immediately. But the settlement bid has been rejected by the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers. A spokesman commented: "We'll believe the Council's offer when we see the extra teachers in the classroom."

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 29, 1953

SIR,- May I give a warning to young women who are apt to leave their handbags about in dance halls to be more careful in future. I had the unfortunate experience last Friday night at a town-centre dance hall to be robbed of mine, and the contents and the bag together were worth more than £9.

As a housewife with three young children, I can hardly afford this loss, and this is indeed a lesson to me. It is a great pity if one can't trust one's own sex in these matters. I appeal to the one who took the bag to consider what she is doing, or she may not be so lucky next time.

Ninette Hughes (Mrs), 337, Hulton-lane, Bolton.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 29, 1903

THE proposed application to sell spirituous liquors at premises to be erected at the junction of St. Helens-rd. with Hulton-lane has aroused strong opposition among residents in that district, and a well-attended meeting of ratepayers was held in the Wesleyan schoolroom on Tuesday evening, to protest against the planting of a licensed house in the locality. The Rev. J.S. Morris, speaking as a citizen and resident, showed how the neighbourhood would suffer peculiar disadvantages which would be shared by abstainers and non-abstainers alike. He had made a house-to-house visitation on the subject, and not a single householder supported the application. A substantial sum was collected to pay for legal assistance in support of the opposition.