From the Evening News, July 10, 1992 - IT has the second worst crime rate in the whole of England and Wales. More than a third of all births are illegitimate, children and adults spend more on cigarettes and alcohol in as week than anywhere else in Britain. It has the greatest growth in drug addiction - and more boys leave school without any qualifications than anywhere else in Britain.

Where is this Utopia? Sorry to break the news, but you are living right in the middle of it . . . the North-west.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 9, 1977

LOSTOCK Junction - axed as a railway station 11 years ago - could re-appear in local train timetables by 1980. Long term plans to build a new station at the junction have been shunted forward by Greater Manchester planners. A scheme to redevelop the junction as a "park and ride" station to take pressure away from Bolton's Trinity Street has existed since 1975. Now, as a result of changes in transport policy since the Tory victory at the May GMC elections, the new station could be built before the end of the seventies.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 10, 1952

YESTERDAY afternoon, as soon as the sun came out, crowds flocked to Moss Bank Park where there were games for the children in the afternoon and dances for the adults in the evening. Last night for the first time, Bolton's Little Theatre's open-air presentation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was held in Moss Bank Park; hundreds of people danced on the grass in the park, and many more watched the square dancing.

The holiday tours of Bolton and district have also been very popular.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 10, 1902

THE condition of the Lancashire cotton trade at the present time is far from satisfactory. Spinners of American cotton have, for some time past, been stopping two days a week, but matters have not improved, and an effort is now being made to induce spinners of Egyptian cotton in Bolton and district to join in the short time movement.

PC W. Simons paid an unexpectedly visit to 25 South-st., Great Lever, on Monday afternoon, and apprehended a well-built young soldier named Absalom Hailwood on a charge of being an absentee without leave, since the 3rd inst., from the Lancashire Fusiliers, stationed at Bury. Hailwood, who was wearing civilian clothing when arrested, was committed by the Borough Justices this morning to await orders from the War Office or the arrival of an escort.