JUST as the cold set in this week (Jan 20, 2005), Radcliffe was feeling the chill back in January 1955.

The big difference between then and now was the greater reliance upon solid fuel at the time.

This meant that supplies would face heavy demand and sometimes - the housewive's nightmare - would even run out.

When Radcliffe Times reporters called upon harassed coal dealers back then, they found that supply had been far outstripped by demand.

The job of delivering coal was made all the worse by the harsh conditions.

Not only did the poor weather hold up transport for the fuel, it also made coal piles very difficult to dig from the supply mounds. And there was also the problem of finding labour.

Coal bagging was one of the most unpopular jobs there could be at any time, let alone with the prospect of having to work in freezing conditions.

People were, as ever, urged to build up their stocks throughout the year - the same words of advice that followed a coal shortage every year.

"If more people would build up reserves when the demand is slight they would help us and help themselves," said one supplier.

The situation was not as dire as it had been in those dark pre-war years when shortages were more severe.

One of the town's largest coal suppliers said: "Nobody should be without a fire if they order ancillary fuel a few days before their supply runs out completely and thus give the dealer time to get round to them."

Pensioners were often hardest hit as they often had too little money to buy in extra fuel during the summer months.

If the hard-pressed supplier was only a day or two late, elderly folk would not have enough fuel left to see them through.