From the Evening News, March 31, 1904: A NERVOUS man named William Quilter, residing at Farnworth, was placed in the dock at the County Sessions this morning charged with attempting to commit suicide.

Supt Leeming explained that the prisoner had attempted to take his life by cutting his throat with a razor. He had not succeeded and had only done injuries of a slight nature to himself. He had been drinking heavily lately and had not been living comfortably with his wife. Supt Leeming thought it would be a mercy if the Bench would remand the prisoner for a week to get the drink out of him; probably he would be another man and the remand would prove a benefit to him. The prisoner promised that if the Magistrates would overlook the offence he would not do anything of the kind again. The prisoner was remanded for a week.

From the Evening News, March 31, 1954: CLLR Lucas moved successfully at yesterday's meeting of Bolton Education Committee that a protest be made to the minister of education on the scarcity of grammar school places in Bolton. He said: "Children are bullied and driven by anxious parents until they become nervous wrecks to try and get one of these precious places." If the minister had set her mind against the comprehensive school then she must allow Bolton to find many more grammar school places, he said.

MR Ernest Thornton (Farnworth) and Mr Harold Boardman (Leigh) are among Labour MPs who have signed a Parliamentary motion urging the government "to take the initiative in order to prevent the explosion of any further thermo-nuclear bombs."

From the Evening News, March 31, 1979: A MASSIVE security review was going on in political and police circles today as forensic experts began a detailed examination of the bomb that killed Tory MP Airy Neave. A Scotland Yard spokesman said it was still not possible to say whether the bomb had been planted under his car before or after he had driven to the House of Commons car park.

A HALF-mile stretch of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal has been drained for repairs because of a leak. The section is downstream from the Hayward Road Bridge, Little Lever, where the canal is about 7ft deep. The leak is being repaired by the owners, the British Waterways Board.

From the Evening News, March 31, 1994: BOLTON'S multi-million pound school meals contract is being thrown out to public tender. The contract to provide 3.5 million school meals each year to primary and secondary pupils is currently held by the council's Direct Labour Organisation. The contract expires in January next year.

CORONATION Street star Julie Goodyear - who plays pub landlady Bet Gilroy - is to host a pilot talk show. Straight-talking Miss Goodyear will preside over a studio audience and specially invited guests to discuss "two burning issues of the day," said a spokeswoman for Granada TV. Granada is stressing that the pilot "does not conflict with Miss Goodyear's continuing commitment to Coronation Street".