THEATRE, music & DANCE RMI and District Operatic Societies present Half a Sixpence, Horwich Leisure Centre, Victoria Road, 7.30pm; Tel: 692211.

SALFORD Operatic and Drama Society present Carousel, Lancastrian Hall, Chorley Road, Swinton, 7.30pm. Adults £6, children £2 and concessions £4. Tel: 0161 794 7984.

BOLTON Music Service's activities include Bolton Junior Youth Choir, 6pm-7.30pm, Bolton Girls' Choir, 6.45pm-8.45pm, Bolton Youth Choir, 6.30pm-9pm and the Gamalon Orchestra at Bolton Music Centre, The Deane School, New York and Turton Junior Strings Ensemble at Walmsley CEPS, 4pm-6pm. Tel: Bolton Music Service on 658804 for further details.

THE Farnworth Aces Morris Dancers is holding a practice night for girls age 15 and upwards at the New Bury Community Centre, Buckley Lane, Farnworth at 6.30pm.

A CHOIR practice session is held at St John the Evangelist, Wingates at 7pm.

BOLTON and District Pipe Band is holding a practice night for pipers and drummers at the Tonge Moor United Reformed Club, Starkie Road, Bolton from 8pm-10pm. For further information tel: 706382.

THE Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Irish Music Association is holding beginners and advanced Irish music sessions on various instruments at the Balmoral Hotel, Great Moor Street from 8pm. For further information tel: Nula on 794036.

HORWICH RMI AODS, rehearsals, Horwich Parish Top School, Church Street, 8pm.

RIVINGTON and Adlington Brass Band, rehearsals, Band Room, Babylon Lane, 8pm-10pm. LEISURE, SPORT AND KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 522693: step aerobics, 6pm-7pm and 7pm-8pm; Ju Jitsu, 8pm-9pm; cardio gym open, 7.30am-10pm.

DEANE Leisure Centre, Junction Road, Deane, tel: 656033: junior swimming lessons, 5.30pm-7.30pm; weights induction, 7pm-9pm; adult only swim, 9.15pm-10.15pm.

FARNWORTH Leisure Centre, Brackley Street, Farnworth, tel: 793243: morning refresher, 7am-7.30am and 7.30am-8am; open session, 8am-7pm; parents and tots, 12 noon-1pm (SP); swimming lessons, 4pm-7.15pm (SP); splash aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm (SP); adult lane swim, 9pm-10pm.

HARPER Green Leisure Centre, Harper Green Road, Farnworth, tel: 701946: badminton, tennis, floodlit astro turf, 8.30pm-10pm.

HAYWARD Leisure Centre, Lever Edge Lane, Hayward, tel: 656819: karate, 7pm-8.30pm; badminton, 7.30pm-9.30pm.

HORWICH Leisure Centre, Victoria Road, tel: 692211: main pool, 7am-8.40pm; ladies fitness morning, 9.30am-12.30pm; body conditioning, 11am-12 noon; step class, 12 noon-1pm; 50+ keep fit, 1pm-2pm and 2pm-3pm; small pool, 3.30pm-4.15pm; aerobics, 6pm-7pm; small pool, 6.15pm-7.30pm; aqua aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm; adults only swim, 9pm-10.30pm.

JUBILEE Pool, Darley Street, tel: 393321: disabled session, 9am-11.30am; aqua aerobics, 11.30am-12.30pm; public swim, 12.30pm-3.30pm and 6pm-8.30pm; public session, 4pm-5.30pm.

Kearsley Leisure Centre, Springfield Road, Kearsley, tel: 709250: aerobics, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

Little Lever Leisure Centre, Church Street, Little Lever, tel: 708250: aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm; squash courts available 5.20pm-10pm; badminton courts; table tennis course available 5.20pm-10pm.

Sharples Leisure Centre, Hillcot Road, Sharples, tel: 301444: open session in pool, 5.30pm-6.30pm; football course, 5.30pm-6.30pm and 6.30pm-7.30pm; beginners aerobics, 6.15pm-7.15pm; aqua natal, 6.30pm-7.30pm; aqua aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm; adults only swim, 8.30pm-10pm.

TURTON Leisure Centre, Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, tel: 595654: 50+ swimming session, 5.30pm-6.30pm; fitness session for 8-13 year olds, 6.30pm-7.30pm; adults only swim, 6.30pm-8.30pm; aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm; adult swimming lessons, 8.30pm-9pm; laned fitness swim, 9pm-10pm; step aerobics, 9.30pm-10pm.

WATER Place, Great Moor Street, tel: 364616: morning refresher swim, 7am-7.30am; Lifestyles gym, 7.30am-10pm; early risers swim, 7.30am-9am; stretch and relax, 10am-11am; kinderswim, 10.30am-12 noon; lunch break swim, 12 noon-2pm; water aerobics, 8.30pm-9.30pm.

Westhoughton Leisure Centre, Bolton Road, Westhoughton, tel: 01942 814030: 50+ swimming, 12.45pm-1.45pm; parents and tots, 2pm-3pm; junior soccer coaching, 5.30pm-6.30pm; aerobics, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

WITHINS Leisure Centre, Newby Road, Breightmet, tel: 395980: gymnastics course, 5.15pm-7.15pm; Habit classes, 6.30pm-7.20pm; step aerobics, 7.30pm-8.30pm; casual badminton, 7.30pm-9.30pm; trampoline course, 7.45pm-9.15pm.

BOLTON 6th Form College, Smithills Dean Road: line dancing, 7pm-8pm; aerobics, 8pm-9pm. Tel: 846215. CLUBS & GROUP MEETINGS BOLTON Members Group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, indoor meeting with a talk and slide show entitled Some of Britain's Birds of Prey by D Webb, a naturalist and wildlife photographer from Sheffield, Drama Theatre, Bolton School Girls Division, Chorley New Road, Bolton, 7.30pm. Admission £1.20 members, £2.50 non-members.

BOLTON Smithills Townswomen's Guild, AGM, Smithills and Heaton Conservative Club, Chorley Old Road, 7.30pm.

BOLTON Camera Club, monthly print and slide competition with Mr D Butler, Trinity Methodist Church, Bury Road, Tonge Fold, 8pm.

BROMLEY Cross WI, a talk entitled Flower Shows of Great Britain by Graham Iddon, sale of plants and gardeners' questions answered, 7.30pm. Tickets £1.50 including refreshments, tel: 302830.

BOLTON and District Combined Ex-servicemen and Women's Association, meeting, Derby Barracks, Fletcher Street, 8pm.

Ladybridge Pre-School meet at Ladybridge Community Centre, Beaumont Drive, 9am-12 noon. For further information tel: Karen Higson on 651397 (anytime) or 660353 during opening hours.

TOT Stop Pre-School group meet at Bolton Pentecostal Church, Bury New Road from 9am-12 noon and 1pm-4pm. Tel: 361704.

ADLINGTON Community Centre, Railway Road: pre-school playgroup, 9.15am-11.45am and 12.30pm-3pm. Tel: 01257 483479.

ST Paul's School, Adlington: nursery, 9am-12 noon; toddler and parent care group, 1pm-3pm; after school care club, 3.15pm-6pm. Tel: 01257 480276.

GUARDIANS and carers are invited to the pre-school Carers and Tots group at the Lowndes Street Family Support Centre, Halliwell from 9.30am-12 noon. For further information tel: 843107.

THE FIrst Steps Mums and Toddlers group meet at St Paul's Peel, 10am-12 noon.

SENIOR Citizens and disabled people are invited to a luncheon club at Trinity Methodist Church, Bury Road from 12 noon. For further information tel: 524453.

A luncheon club providing a proper dinner and sweet with tea and coffee followed by a game of dominoes is held at Barlow Park Community Centre, off Dunoon Drive from 12 noon. Admission is £1.50.

A WEEKLY luncheon club with activities for the over 60s takes place at Springfield Gardens Community Centre, Kearsley at 12.15pm. Admission is £1.50 including lunch. Tel: June on 432091.

A social club for the elderly is held at St Edmund's Church Hall, off Deansgate from 12.45pm.

THE Thursday Group arranging social activities, crafts, games and refreshments is held at Somerset Road UR Church, off Chorley New Road, Heaton from 1.30pm-3.30pm.

THE Rainbow Healing Group is demonstrating healing, meditation and relaxation exercises with an informal talk at the Friends' Meeting house, Silverwell Street, Bolton from 5.15pm-7.30pm.

THE Children's Club meets at the Zion Christian Fellowhsip, Slater Street, 6.15pm.

THE 3rd Worsley Beaver Colony for 6 to 8 year olds meets at St Paul's, Peel, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

THE Westhoughton Friendship Club is meeting at the Carnegie Hall, Library Street, Westhoughton from 6.45pm-9.45pm. For further information tel: 01942 811222.

GRACE Healing Group offering alternative therparies and holistic healing at Quaker House, Wellington Road, Eccles, 7pm. Tel: 656921.

BOLTON Art Circle is holding a workshop at Highfield Hall Community Centre, Marsh Lane, Farnworth from 7pm-9pm. For further information tel: 847607.

1ST Anderton Guides, St Joseph's School, Adlington, 7pm-8.30pm.

ST John Ambulance is holding a meeting to recruit volunteers to train as first aiders at Age Concern headquarters, Moor Lane bus station at 7.30pm. For further information tel: John Fisher on 846343.

THE Writers' Group meet at Wolfenden Community Centre at 7.30pm.

WESTHOUGHTON Age Support Project (WASP) is holding a prize bingo session at Winifred Kettle Centre, Washacre, Westhoughton at 7pm. Tel: Mrs Seddon on 01942 812982 for further details.

A Friendship group for men and women age 55-65 meets in the Coffee Rooms, Walkden Congregational Church, Harriet Street. For further information tel: 0161 799 3953.

THE Rainbows and Brownies meet at St Paul's Peel, 6.15pm-7.30pm. For further information tel: 0161 748 7508. OTHER EVENTS BOLTON YMCA, 125 Deansgate: second hand book sale, 1pm-4pm; scalextric club, 7pm; junior football, 6.15pm.

CHORLEY and South Ribble CVS, advocacy service, Astley Hall Farmhouse, Hallgate, Astley Village, 9am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm. Tel: 01257 263254.

WESTHOUGHTON Community Centre: under 5;s 9.30am-11.30am; Women's Group, 1pm-3pm; flower arranging, 7pm-9pm.

HORWICH Resource Centre, Beaumont Road: ceramics for pleasure CES class with creche (term time only), 10.15am-12.15pm; WASPS looking good/feeling good, 12.30pm-2pm; confidence building CES class with creche (term time only), 1pm-3pm; St John Ambulance Badgers, 6.30pm-7.30pm; art level 1/2 CES class (term time only), 7pm-9pm.

BOLTON Deaf Society, Bark Street: advice and information session, 9am-1pm; British Sign Language Classes (Stages 1 and 2); for further information tel: Gillian Gregory on 521219.

A bereavement support drop-in is held at Our Lady and the Lancashire Martyrs, Hallstead Avenue, Little Hulton from 10am-11am.

A drop-in centre offering a CAB service and a food and clothing store is held at St Luke's Church, Chorley Old Road from 10am-3pm.

MEET old friends and make ones at the Thursday Brunch in Bank Street Chapel, via the Crown Street door entrance, opposite the multi-storey car park from 10.30am-2pm.

LUNCH is provided at the Barlow Park Community Centre, near the Bowling Greens, off Dunoon Drive from 12 noon.

OUR Lady and the Lancashire Martyrs parish holds a mass in St Ann's Hospice at 3pm.

BOLTON Museum and Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent: Thomas Moran's masterpiece Nearing Camp, Evening on the Upper Colorado River 1882 and work by Turner, Ruskin and Moran's other British influences; Jerry Gordon: The Harmony and Diversity of Sacred Sites showing oil paintings by the Lancashire artist who has made it his mission to visit and paint the world's most sacred sites by the Millennium; The Unexplained: Photographs of the Paranormal documenting images of the supernatural; Beauty and the Beast exploring the exotic world of animal life and costume through shape, colour and form; Science Week showing how man has used nature's models for design and problem solving.

CENTRAL Library, Le Mans Crescent: reading promotion posters designed by Year 9, Hayward School; We're Kitted Out promotion for teenagers, audio visual library; sports reading promotion display case.

BREIGHTMET Library, Breightmet Drive: Closer To Nature Preserving Bolton's Open Spaces by Bolton Documentary Photographers.

TONGE Moor Library, Tonge Moor Road: Merrie England, a library display promoting reading with a medieval theme.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.