WHO says the power of the press isn't a force to be reckoned with. Bolton stockbrokers, Hargreave Hale -- who review the shares for this very page -- says they are amazed at the success of their recently opened Wood Street branch. The office, at number 23, opened it's doors in June and it's first six months of trading has seen a stream of new customers utilising its services.

Jon Hitchin, who runs the office, says: "We have been astonished by the success of the Bolton office -- it's been far more successful than any of the partners envisaged."

Hargreave Hale was established in 1897 and has other branches in Blackpool, London, Bangor, Carlisle, Poole and the Isle of Man.

The office in Bolton works with solicitors, accountants, fund managers and independent financial advisors but, as Jon points out, "we also deal with people who just pop in off the street."

He adds: "Before Hargreave Hale moved to Bolton there was a real gap in the town, especially after the closure of Llwellyn Greenalgh Stockbrokers a few years ago.

"People who had changed to a Manchester broker are slowly coming back to Bolton.

"We are delighted with our success and the office is very busy, so much so we are looking to recruit a new member of staff."

Jon, who lives in Bolton and was educated at Bolton school, says: "We now have a client base of over 200, of all sizes -- from executionary to discretionary -- and it's partly due to the BEN.

"Since we started writing for the business page, we've received many, many enquiries."

Hargreave Hale, Chamber of Commerce members, are holding a free training seminar for solicitors on Thursday, November 12 -- solicitors now have to do Continuous Professional Development Training (CPD) to keep up with developments in the profession, according to Jon -- and anyone interested should contact him on 01204 435025.

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Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.