THERE was a time when shops in Bolton town centre would not need shutters and proved hugely popular to local folk doing a bit of "window shopping" in the evening.

A reader who sent in her memories can recall many of the fashion shops and although now living in the south of England has never forgotten her roots.

Here are just a few of the many shops and stores Bolton would boast in the the 1960s and 1970s. We wonder how many of your can remember them.

"We loved to go shopping at night after work because most shops were still lit up with their mannequins dressed in all the latest 1960s fashion — unlike today with all the shutters up.

"Joan Barrie in Knowsley Street was a very classy shop with the staff dressed smartly in all black and one of the ladies would attend to you personally. Nothing was too much trouble and you could get a classy outfit in the 1960s for around £10 to £15," she says.

Modelia in Deansgate was a "nice fashion shop" and J and J Wilson on the corner of Market Street was a budget price shop but "very up to date".

Hilary Ann Boutique which started out in Bank Street and then moved to Churchgate was also popular. "Hilary's fashions' were a legend and she had a lot of stunning outfits and was very popular with me and my friends."

Chelsea Girl boutique in Newport Street was another popular fashion shop.

Vallerina Stocking Bar in Newport Street was a small shop that sold nylon stockings of all styles and tights. "Tights were just becoming popular in the early 1960s but you could get them here because you wore them for skating at the Nevada skating rink."

Kraysons shoe shop was in Corporation Street "a fabulous shoe shop which was stocked from floor to ceiling with shoe boxes of every style and colour — again this was always busy and very popular and you could easily get fixed up to match an outfit.

"There was a boutique called Susan's in Churchgate, facing Prestons, which I think was owned by Susan Lane a famous Bolton soprano."

Men's fashion shops included John Colliers, Burtons (who had a busy factory in Halliwell), Beavers in Higher Bridge Street and Judsons in Higher Bridge Street as well as Dunns Hat Shop in Deansgate.