ALTHOUGH the news that arsonists have burnt a Westhoughton nativity crib to cinders is sickening, there is a heartening note in our front page story.

Cllr David Wilkinson says that this "sick" vandalism will not stop the annual Christmas display in the Memorial Gardens. It will not be the end of the public nativity in the town.

Since the yobs brave enough to destroy a much-loved, but inanimate tableau obviously wanted to boast about some kind of victory here, this pledge is both refreshing and sensible. And we hope it severely frustrates the yobs involved.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.