BOLTON'S rich textile history enters a new and fascinating period with an exhibition at Smithills Hall.

Progressive Threads is the name of a group of post City and Guilds students of Bolton Community Education who are staging the exhibition. They meet on a regular basis and their aim is the development and promotion of textiles in the widest sense. The latest exhibition -- called "Building on ...." -- is certainly worth a visit as inspirations for the work on show include ornate plaster ceilings from historic houses and foreign domes and pinnacles.

The exhibition is open Sundays 2pm-5pm, and Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am to 5pm.