25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, June 22, 1976

A LOCAL vicar has attacked the "diabolical meanness" of people who answered an appeal to feed the starving millions by donating one p coin.

The Rev. Ernest Osman, Vicar of St Peter's Church, Farnworth, said he had been "shocked and disgusted" when opening envelopes for a Christian Aid appeal to find that several people had placed only one half penny inside.

Mr Osman said the envelopes had not only come from his parish, but from throughout Farnworth.

BRITAIN is on the verge of a new industrial revolution - built on massive new energy resources discovered over the past few years, the Prime Minister said in London today.

Launching the first ever national energy conference, Mr Jim Callaghan listed massive new discoveries of coal, gas and oil plus the pioneer development of nuclear energy.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 22, 1951

WHILE Labour's majority at Westhoughton fell by 3,104 in yesterday's by-election, the seat, vacant through the resignation of Mr Rhys Davies, who had held it for 30 years, was retained for the Government. The result is: J.T. Price (Lab), 25,368, F.J. Land (Con) 16,614. Majority 8,754 (No change). The total poll fell from 88,4 per cent to 75.96 per cent.

The announcement of the result was greeted with cheers and counter cheers and these were renewed as the candidates appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall, where a moderate crowd waited.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 22, 1876

YESTERDAY afternoon a severe thunderstorm passed over Bolton and the district, and towards evening increased in intensity. Rain fell in torrents, and the lightning was more vivid. No accident occurred with the excepotion of the following:- A horse and dog-cart belonging to James Ormrod, Esq., of Halliwell Lodge, were standing opposite St Thomas's Church, Brownlow-fold, when a flash of lightning startled the horse, which galloped along the road, and down Chorley Old-road, and St George's-road. It was stopped near the Congregational Church, but the vehicle was seriously damaged, and both wheels had come off. No-one was hurt, the coachman having alighted before the horse took fright.

A horse was struck by lightning in Westhoughton, and is so seriously injured that it is not expected to recover. The animal is owned by Mr Thomas Heyes, beerhouse keeper, of the Victoria Inn, Market-street, and was in the stable adjoining the beerhouse when struck.