From the Evening News, January 1, 1993: THE New Year came in like a lamb in Bolton town centre as police mounted a massive operation to ensure a peaceful start.

It was one of the most trouble-free New Year's Eves for many years, and police reported only a handful of arrests in the town centre and over the rest of the Bolton, Leigh and Bury areas. Hundreds of people who flocked to Victoria Square were said to be "good natured". But they had little alternative. Police kept to their promise and turned out in force - including mounted officers - to show they would tolerate no trouble.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

December 31, 1977

AFTER an epic battle, John Lloyd narrowly failed in his bid to win the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne. He was beaten 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2 in a marathon final by top seeded American Vita Gerulaitis. He had the consolation of winning the biggest prize of his tennis career, £7,500, while his New York opponent and close personal friend pocketed £14,500.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 1, 1953

BOLTON'S new Corporation housing estates are full of children - naturally so, because the new houses are granted only to people who need them, and the families who have the greatest need are usually those with a number of children.

The presence of children - whether the passer-by observes them in the flesh or not - seems to give the new estates a brighter appearance, a more vital atmosphere than those which were built and tenanted before 1939. And the brightness is not provided only by the new property and the cleaner paint.

Anyone who doubts that it is the children who provide it need only stroll through a new estate and an old estate this week. A colleague who did this yesterday noticed that almost every house along two or three Breightmet roads had a gaily painted Christmas tree in the window. On the older estates, near town, there was only an occasion tree - perhaps every six or seven houses.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

January 1, 1903

THE last day of the old year closed, not in snow and ice, but in atmospheric conditions more in accord with November than the eve of January.

Seeing the old, year out was an occupation performed as usual, according to the varying proclivities of all classes of citizens. Some spent the last hours of the dying year at watch night services. Others, more festively inclined, saw the old year disappear into the past by assembling on Victoria-sq., where hundreds of persons gathered. It was noticeable, however, that the smallpox scare had a marked effect upon the attendance on both Victoria-sq. and the Wholesale Market.

The Borough Police had indeed a busy time, as a result of which a large number of prisoners will make their appearance in front of the Borough Magistrates at the Town Hall tomorrow.