From the Evening News January 2, 1996: A NEW water crisis was facing Bolton and the rest of the North-west today as an unprecedented number of bursts drained away depleted reservoir stocks.

The big freeze has been followed by a rapid thaw, leading to a mass of bursts for North West Water to fix.

AMBITIOUS plans were today unveiled to save Bolton town centre from the threat of the huge Trafford Centre shopping city" just a 20 minute drive away.

An exciting £630,000 marketing drive has been launched to establish Bolton as one of the regions top shopping and tourism centres.

From the Evening News January 2, 1981: PLANS are underway to convert one of Boltons oldest schools into houses.

But people living in Egerton village are keeping their fingers crossed that the scheme will never happen.

Walmsley School on Blackburn Road becomes redundant in a few weeks time when its 230 children move the few hundred yards into their new school.

ABOUT 30 young cyclists kitted out in crash helmets and knee pads will try out the latest American sports craze in Bolton on Sunday.

Its cycle moto-cross and a course complete with steep slopes, sharp turns and high jumps has been arranged at the Scar Mount Reservoir at Tonge Road.

Riders from the Hindley area will take part as well as members of the new True Grit Club in Bolton. The riders, aged between seven and 16, are hoping to have their own permanent track shortly.

From the Evening News January 2, 1956: INTO hundreds of Bolton homes over the Christmas period went a gift which has grown tremendously popular over the past five years.

Local florists reported sell-out of these attractive presents - small decorative pots of cactus plants - and when British stocks ran out more had to be brought in from Holland.

More and more Boltonians are becoming cactus gardeners, reported one town-centre shop keeper, and there is a keen demand for pots of all sizes at prices ranging from 8s. to three guineas.

From the Evening News January 2, 1906: Mr. Chamberlains election address was issued last night. The country will suffer," he asserts, if it is not prepared to deal with the question of preferential treatment at once, but the cries of the people and the miseries of the poor will ultimately force the only solution."

Stephen Lane, an Urmston youth, whose age was given as sixteen, but who looked younger, was fined 4s. 6d. by the Manchester County Stipendiary to-day for drunkenness. He was found by a constable lying helpless in the roadway, and it was stated that a bottle which had contained whisky, was then in his pocket.

2005