ELEVEN-year-old Daniel Cooke limped into Bolton's history books this morning - the first patient to be treated at the new state of the art casualty unit.

At 7.30 this morning Daniel, who lives in Farnworth, was taken to the unit by his father with an injury to his foot.

Ironically, it was whilst he was visiting his father's girlfriend in the hospital yesterday evening that he fell and landed awkwardly on his foot. Little did the Little Lever High pupil realise his injury - slight bruising to his toes which required a support dressing - would make NHS history.

Throughout the night, Accident and Emergency staff worked to ensure Bolton's new casualty was fit for action.

Consultant John Adams said: "Considering the scale of the move and all that's associated with it, it's gone remarkably well."

By 8.30am eight patients had been treated - three stretcher cases and five walk in's.

For Daniel, the attention his foot prompted took him rather by surprise.

His father said: "All he could think about was his gran coming off her holiday to see his picture in the paper. He was a bit stunned really."

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