THIS photograph really took our eye when we spotted it in our photographic archives.

It shows a very important route into Bolton town centre and on to Horwich and is, of course, Chorley New Road.

Chorley New Road was, once, the preserve of the rich and influential in Bolton including mill owners and other captains of industry.

Our old photograph was taken in August 1949 and shows the progress of concreting the road in Heaton which had, at this point, reached Albert Road.

Just look at those 1940s vehicles and the danger sign — proof, if proof were needed, that this photograph was taken at a time when there were far fewer cars and Chorley New Road was a very different place to the one we see today.

But aside from the obvious differences between the vehicles the road layout looks virtually the same as does the shrubbery and the trees. In fact if we took away the street sign and the vehicles there would be little to distinguish between the two scenes.

Do you have any memories to share of the 1940s in Bolton? If so we would love to hear them.

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