VANDALS are causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to council propert . . . under the noses of six security cameras! 10 years ago from the Evening News September 15 1995

Even though the cameras are trained on them, the yobs constantly wreck an ornate wall in School Hill - and return to the scene to repeat the vandalism time and time again.

The cameras, some fixed and some moving, are positioned around flats on School Hill, Bolton, and focus on the property and walls surrounding them.

Yet according to one resident living nearby the vandals still "have a ball".

THE French have dropped another bombshell - they want to take over Bolton's council houses!

Shocked housing chiefs have revealed that a bid has been put in by a French firm to manage council estate.

But councillors are confident that they will be able to say "non" to the bold offer . . . and save 350 local jobs.

D-day for Bolton's 22,000 tenants is January 16 when they will know whether the council's in-house direct labour organisation has seen off the competition.

25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News September 15 1980

THE colourful past of Westhoughton - from the Luddite riots to the Pretoria pit disaster - will be revealed in a local history course organised by the Bolton WEA.

The six classes in Westhoughton High School, will reveal interesting facts about the famous "Keaw - yed" tradition, the real cause of the Pretoria pit horror, and the name of the benefactor who financed the erection of Westhoughton Parish Church on condition that the vicar retired.

DISABLED sports competitors from Bolton's Jubilee Centre covered themselves in glory - and medals -at the National Games for the Multidisabled. The six sports enthusiasts returned this weekend from the Games at Stoke Mandeville with seven gold medals and 10 silver.

50 YEARS AGO From the Evening News September 15 1955

BOLTON-BORN radio and TV star Hylda Baker was given an enthusiastic welcome by crowds outside the Bolton Co-operative Store in Oxford-st when she arrived there to-day. Miss Baker, who is at present appearing at Blackpool, was met by the general manager, Mr. D. H. Lewis, and other representatives. Before entering the store she chatted with the people thronged around the entrance, among whom were her mother Mrs. M Baker, and other relatives.

100 YEARS AGO From the Evening News September 15 1905

A FURTHER endeavour was made this forenoon to settle the gas workers' strike, which has been in progress in Bolton for the past two months. It will be recollected that 131 of the workers employed in the Corporation gas works sent in an application for an advance in wages, and also an alteration in the terms of employment. This request, the Gas Committee did not accede to. About 80 of the men withdrew their notices, but 54, principally employed at the Gas-st, works came out on strike.