HOW times change…

We found this rather incredible picture in the Bolton News photographic archives while working on a feature for our Looking Back nostalgia supplement.

Needless to say, said supplement had nothing to do with ladies’ undergarments.

This image depicts the bar area of the Nag’s Head in Deansgate in 1981.

Knickers were, ahem, ordered down at the Bolton boozer under strict orders of the brewery.

Quite why female bar staff and some customers had been baring their briefs was unknown at the time – and still remains a mystery.

The smalls were installed above the bar area alongside the names of their former owners.

Brewers, Greenall Whitley, took the prank in good spirits, but decided to remove the items in the interest of good taste.

If you can shed any light on the mystery, get in touch by emailing gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk