From the Evening News, October 12, 1992 - TWENTY-one schoolchildren were among an astonishing 84 people arrested in a major crackdown on shoplifters in Bolton town centre.

Three schoolboy thieves aged nine were also detained in the operation, the first of its kind ever staged in the area. Thirteen of the schoolchildren caught were playing truant. The clampdown, over six days, involved 20 police officers and 20 store detectives.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 12, 1977

BOLTON Wanderers' midfield man Peter Reid is to skipper the England Under 21 team against Finland at Hull City's Boothferry Park tomorrow. Reid is recalled to the side for the UEFA tournament clash after missing the last England fame against Norway at Brighton when the formation was switched from 4-3-3 to 4-2-4. He made his debut last season and took part in the England tour of Scandinavia at the end of the season.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 11, 1952

A QUEUE of Europeans nearly a quarter of a mile long lined the pavements in front of the administrative offices in Nairobi today seeking permits to carry firearms to protect themselves against Mau Mau terrorists. The Europeans of Kenya have reacted angrily to the news of yesterday's savage slashing of a retired British Colonel and his wife in a Nairobi suburb.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

October 11, 1902

SHORTLY before four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, what might have been a serious accident occurred at Messrs J. Roscoe and Sons Peel Hall Collieries, Little Hulton. The men having finished the day's work, were preparing for getting to the surface, but before they ascended, half-a-dozen tubs of coal were drawn up. These, it appears, were overwound, and with a crash fell to the bottom of the shaft.

About 450 men were imprisoned in the mine, and it was about four hours later before they were able to leave. Considerable damage was done to the shaft, and the whole of the men are stopped until Tuesday whilst repairs are carried out.

Some consternation was caused in the district through the non-arrival of the men at their homes, and a large number of relatives and others assembled at the pit head, a rumour having spread that a serious disaster had occurred.