PEOPLE will be feeling lighter in the pocket next month - when a new 10p coin goes into circulation.

It is slightly larger than the old 5p piece and will replace the present 10p and "florin" currently in circulation, completing the change over to decimal coinage which began in 1971.

THREE hundred social workers in Bolton's children's and old folk's homes staged a half-day strike this afternoon. They are angry that Bolton Council has failed to bring in a national re-grading structure for resident social workers.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 4, 1977

THE future of one of Bolton's oldest town centre buildings has been jeopardised by the town's planning committee. They made it clear that public money would not be spent on the preservation of the 174-year-old Higher Bridge Street Methodist Church, and that they would not oppose the building's demolition. The decision came as a disappointment to the Bolton and District Civic Trust, which has fought to save the building from the bulldozers, and had asked Bolton Council to protect it.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 3, 1952

THE number of courts and entries surviving off Churchgate, Bradshawgate and Deansgate, a link with a very much different Bolton, has brought a reader's question as to whether they were formerly the site of people's houses.

These courts and alleys were originally short streets of cottages. About 130 years ago, John Albinson, a well-known land surveyor, lived in Chapel-alley, there were traders in Bury's Yard behind the Man and Scythe, a wheelwright and a shuttle-maker in Grimes Court, a bailiff and a plumber in Clark's-entry, a white-smith in Pepper-alley, a shoemaker in Barrows-entry, a counterpane manufacturer in Carters-yard, a schoolmistress in Three Crowns-entry, an attorney in Ship-gates, a "seminary for young ladies" in Woods-court where also lived a spirit merchant, together with some elect houses, and a superior school in Antelope-court.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 4, 1902

BLACKPOOL, Fleetwood, Lytham, and St. Annes, were visited by a sudden and violent hurricane today. At 9.15 everything bore its wonted summer tranquillity, with an easterly breeze, but by 10 a squall from the south-west had appeared. The sea was tremendous, and covered the promenades, steamship services being immediately suspended.

At Blackpool the sea dashed against the hulking, and much anxiety was felt for the North Pier extension work, and the new promenade works at South Shore. The water frequently came over the promenade, and many of the spectators were drenched by the spent waves and the spray.