From the Evening News, August 30, 1903: A WELL-known English surgeon was imparting some clinical instruction to half a dozen students who accompanied him on his rounds the other day.

Pausing at the bedside of a doubtful case, he said: "Now, gentlemen, do you think that this is, or is not, a case for operation?"

One by one the students made their diagnosis, and all of them answered in the negative. "Well, gentlemen, you are all wrong," said the wielder of the free and flashing scalpel, "and I shall operate tomorrow.

"No you won't," said the patient, as he rose in his bed. "Six to one is a good majority; gimme my clothes."

From the Evening News, August 30, 1953:THE rain kept spectators away from Harwood Agricultural Show and Sheep Dog Trials at Nab Gate today, but it did not deter those taking part in the show.

Riders competing in the jumping classes braved the rain, put on their macintoshes and carried on. Mr Elton F. Davis, chairman of the Harwood Agricultural Society which runs the show, said that the rain would mean a loss on the show. Because more than 300 people paid to watch the jumping events, extra stands had been erected, but few people were expected to watch the events in today's rain.

From the Evening News, August 30, 1978:ONE of earth's creatures can't get enough of this soggy summer - the Daddy Long Legs. At present we are undergoing an invasion of innocuous spindly Mr Long Legs . . . and Mrs Long Legs.

Geoff Hancock, of Bolton Museum, is four years into a study of the insects who less colloquial title is crane fly.

He says: "They are at their most abundant every five years or so, and this is probably the fifth year. So there are a lot more around."

From the Evening News, August 30, 1993: A PILOT and four passengers miraculously walked from the mangled wreckage of a plane after it crashed on the moors at Belmont last night. The light aircraft had careered across Belmont Road, smashed through a fence and skidded into the side of a hill.

The Piper Saratoga developed engine trouble and broke up as it hit the moor in thick mist between Belmont and Abbey village. One of the passengers staggered 50 yards to the main road and flagged down a passing motorist, who rushed to the Black Bull pub, Belmont, to raise the alarm.