THESE cheery faces hide a genuine sadness.

The photograph was taken in January 1972 but do you know where it was taken?

It was, in fact, a picture of workers leaving Eagley Mills who had recently learned the mills would close and 600 people would lose their jobs.

The loss of Eagley Mills to the surroundings areas must have been a huge blow.

It is hard to imagine how so many people would ever find work in a world where so many manufacturing industries such as the cotton industry were being closed down.

There would have been many members of the same families working in Eagley Mills and the closure would definitely have affected them badly.

Perhaps you were one of the families affected by the loss of Eagley Mills.

If so we would love to hear from you and hear your memories of working in the cotton industry which was once thriving in the town.

Contact Gayle McBain 01204 537269 email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk