From the Evening News, April 24, 1992

IT'S a kind of magic! The late, great showman Freddie Mercury lives on . . . in the shape of Bolton mechanic Paul Sykes.

The spitting image of Freddie, whose antics in top band Queen helped them achieve superstar status, is raving it up in a small bungalow in Hunger Hill.

And the 25-year-old's uncanny likeness to the camp king of rock 'n' roll has brought a throng of admirers calling at his door. Paul, who watches videos of his idol's live performances every weekend, said: "I don't mind all the attention. It beats having a boring life, anyway."

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1977

CHILDREN aged between 11 and 15 regularly watch explicit sex and violence and hear obscene language on TV, a survey revealed today. Some of the 900 children questioned agreed there is too much sex and violence on our TV screens, according to findings published by the National Viewers and Listeners' Association. The effect of this "adult" TV upon the minds and emotions of children is "incalculable", said the association. The survey also showed that in almost half the children's homes, viewing was unrestricted whether the programme was suitable for family viewing or not.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 24, 1952

MANY Boltonians out shopping in the town centre today looked, rubbed their eyes, then looked again at the two stately men in magnificent, feathered head-dresses, and the woman, girl, and two small children, also with feathers in their hair, who followed them through the streets of the town.

As people looked and wondered, a child shouted out: "It's the circus", and at last they began to understand.

The family of Red Indians from Banff, Canada, will appear with Billy Smart's circus in Bolton the week after next. Today they were looking around the town. The Indians are enjoying their stay in England. But they are worried about the number of people who do not believe they are real Red Indians. To dispel any doubts, they have brought with them their wigwams, and when the circus opens they will show people how they live in their native land.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1902

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR - Lord Kitchener telegraphs from Pretoria as follows: Results during the past week, 18 Boers killed, 19 wounded, 325 prisoners, 10 surrenders, 299 rifles, 5,460 rounds small-arms ammunition, 28 wagons, 170 horses and 1,500 cattle.

General French's columns have been harassing scattered bands in the Lady Grey and Rhodes district, and in the midland area. In the west, the bulk of the enemy force is round Ookiep, which has been attacked unsuccessfully.

In the Orange River Colony, the total population of the refugee camps was 42,204, and the deaths 755. The Transvaal totals for January were: Population, 60,151, deaths 639.