NEVER let it be said Bolton is late with the news . . .

Whether it's the latest on Nel Gwyn, the stagecoach running into town, or even Parliament's decision to back King Charles in his plans to build a new battle ship, look no further.

The latest on all these burning issues and more are featured in newspapers discovered lying in an attic in a house in Harwood.

They are among a fascinating collection of historic treasures which include handwritten documents on shipping merchants dating back to 1771 and books from Disraeli's time. Mrs Kathleen Dawson made the discovery when she offered to help her elderly neighbour to clear the attic. Her husband, who had recently died, was at one time in the Merchant Navy and as a keen collector of items of interest had amassed big collection of books and papers.

Kathleen said: "I have no idea whether they are all totally genuine, but they certainly look it.

"We were simply lending a hand when we discovered all of these things. It was quite mind boggling.

"There is a newspaper entitled the Bolton-le-Moors Echo dated Saturday, May 19, 1677. It is a full paper describing items on Nel Gwyn, a stagecoach running into town, and there is the headline Parliament Agrees Sanctions for a Naval Expansion. It goes on to say how Parliament has voted in support of King Charles' proposal to build a new war ship.

"Another newspaper found is the Bolton Daily Chronicle which is dated 1885. "There is a Cricketers Book, dated 1895, which gives information on cricketers and grounds throughout the country, a book dated 1875 on Punch and Judy with original drawings and another called the Chatterbox Book dated 1916.

"I have no idea how much this stuff is worth. Our elderly neighbour just wants to get rid of them because the money will be much more use to her.

"We do not know where to begin though, and would love to know a little more about the stuff there is - particularly to find out all its history and whether the items truly are genuine."

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