From the Evening News, April 21, 1904: THE silk factory at Westhoughton is included in the property taken over by the newly-formed limited liability company of Joseph Dunkerley and Son Ltd, Oxford Road Mills, Macclesfield.

Lancashire at one time occupied a position second only in importance to that of Spitalfields as a silk manufacturing centre, and the business lingers still at Middleton. It has practically disappeared from Rochdale, where in the form of silk plush the industry once thrived greatly.

From the Evening News, April 21, 1954: THE "widespread misuse" by both adults and children of such fascinating toys as television, radio and cinema was deplored by Mr RI Rand of Springwell Junior Primary School, Sunderland, in his presidential address to the National Association of Schoolmasters' annual conference at Porthcawl today. Such misuse might prevent their ever savouring the strenuous delights and precious rewards of true intellectual and imaginative effort, he said. Mechanical aids had their uses in the classroom, but they could foster inertia in teachers and have a hypnotic power which prevented the genuine exercise of the mind and the imagination.

SPINSTER aunts, who recoil in horror at white mice kept as pets by small boys, will be viewing the current trend in pets with some dismay. A local pet shop proprietor is finding there is a demand for snakes, which can be bought cheaply and raised from small wriggling creatures of 20 inches long to a full growth of four or five feet. Meanwhile, for those who find the snake dull and commonplace, there are baby alligators.

From the Evening News, April 21, 1979: A BUILD-up of rabbits is posing a threat to agriculture in the North-west, the National Farmers' Union warned today. Farmers have been alerted to guard against any build-up of wild rabbit numbers because of the widespread losses which could be caused to crops and the competition which rabbits would provide for farm livestock on pastureland. Six rabbits can eat as much grass as one cow.

TORY leader Mrs Margaret Thatcher was today accused of "playing to the gutter" in her policy on immigration. Labour election candidates acted swiftly and angrily to her assertion on TV last night that a Conservative government would impose "very strict controls indeed" on immigration.

From the Evening News, April 21, 1994: YOUNG Joshua Hartley has his head in the clouds after being told his entry in a ballon race organised by St Matthew's primary school in Little Lever was found by Prince Charles.

The future King picked up the deflated blue balloon as he strolled around the royal estate at Sandringham.

And when the heir to the throne realised it was part of a competition, he instructed his private secretary to write to the seven-year-old Bolton schoolboy.

REGULARS at a Bolton pub will be given a chance to sample a taste of the exotic with the latest delicacy -- alligator. The reptile will be on the menu at the Crown & Cushion alongside ostrich, which landlord Greg Mullins introduced recently.