THESE two rather atmospheric photographs show a shopping street in Bolton which has changed considerably over the more than 50 years since the pictures were taken.

Here we see Newport Street, in the town centre, in a picture taken in 1961 and another taken in 1963. We think the first thing most people will notice is the large number of pedestrians shopping in Newport Street.

The second thing will possibly be the number of shops that no longer exist in this street.

We can see Thorntons the butchers, Boardmans furnishing, Thornley’s and Duncan Foster in the lower photograph.

In the other one there is a shop called Lewis which appears to sell women’s wear and another store called Cantors. Shoppers are going about their business in the street which, at this time, was not pedestrianised.