'WAS there a mass migration of rats from the old fish market to the new one on Ashburner Street?, asks B. Howarth, of Old Vicarage, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton.

'I was having a discussion with a neighbour about rats (you certainly have funny topics of discussion in Daisy Hill, Mr Howarth!), and it brought me back to a story my mother told me years ago. I was told that when the old fish market moved there was a mass exodus of rats, moving in V formation lead by a massive rat. I have mentioned this to a few people, but they look at me in disbelief. So is it just an old wives' tale, or in fact true?'

Well, I'm not going to tell you the answer until I have given you some history, and if you object to that, see if I care!! The Fish Market was built in Bridge Street in 1865, where it remained until 1932 when the opening of the Ashburner Street Market caused its redundancy. For many years before 1932, attention had been focused on what had become a bottleneck in Bridge Street, but it was not until that year that a scheme to widen the street could effectively be put into operation.

Demolition of the Fish Market began in September, 1932, and as heavy tools and explosives could not be used because of vibrations and probably damage to nearby buildings, work continued into the early part of 1933.

In an Evening News' column in 1959, Quidnunc said he had been told of a mass migration of rats along Bridge Street shortly before demolition began, 'but I have been unable to verify this.'

As a result, he received a letter from Mrs B. Brownlow, of Bedford Street, Egerton, who wrote: 'In September, 1932, I was a waitress at the Aspin Hall, Deansgate. I lived at Tonge Moor and as no other member of the staff travelled in my direction, I decided to go to the "Silver Line" in Bridge Street for a taxi after a long evening dance.

'When I got to the Bolton Co-op grocery store in Bridge Street, a policeman was standing there. He took my arm and said "Stay here, Miss.' And then I saw them. What a sight! They were in formation.

'After they had passed, the policeman asked me where I was going, and I told him. The police took me home.

'I have never forgotten the incident and I never will.'

So there you are, Mr Howarth. It seems that the story is true. So when your friends dispute your tale in the future, just show them this column!