BOLTON'S Princess Anne Maternity Unit is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The unit at The Royal Bolton Hospital was opened by HRH Princess Anne in June 1978, though it had opened to the public in May 1977.

Princess Anne opened the maternity unit on June 27, after a lunch at Bolton Town Hall and a visit to the Jubilee Centre at Brownlow Fold. The Princess had given birth to her son Peter just a year earlier.

Hundreds of people turned out in the rain to welcome her and she was presented with a pram canopy by the hospital and a teddy bear by the Jubilee Centre.

Lord Lieutenant Sir William Downward and the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Adam Hibbert, accompanied the Princess on her visit.

The maternity unit cost £1.7million to build and in its first year, 3,486 babies were born, a figure which has risen slightly to 3,798 babies in 2002. There was a baby boom in 1982 when 4,114 babies were born and 13 extra midwives were drafted in to cope with the rush.

In 1978, first-time mothers were required to stay in hospital for a week and mothers who already had children for five days.

Today, mothers are free to leave just hours after giving birth.

To celebrate its birthday, the hospital has organised a black-tie ball on Saturday, October 25 at the Reebok De Vere Whites Hotel. There will be memorabilia and a letter from Princess Anne congratulating the hospital on its achievement on display.

Mothers and babies in today's maternity unit will benefit from any proceeds made. Tickets for the ball are £25 and are available from Kath Fairhurst on 01204 390002 or Angela Barber on 01204 390576.

Can you help us

THE Bolton Evening News is trying to trace some of the unit's first babies.

Were you either a mother or a baby in the unit in May 1977 or were you there when Princess Anne visited the hospital?

If you were, we want to know! Contact newsdesk on 01204 537270