JOURNAL telephone lines were red hot after we published the 1966 picture of a child feeding ducks in Leigh's Firs Park.

Just one little problem . . . FIVE women reckoned it was them. For sure!

Through the powers of modern technology, certainly not available 33 years ago, we have taken Sally Ann Wilcock back to the Sixties.

"That's me," says Sally Ann (pictured), who now lives in King's Crescent, Tyldesley. "As soon as I saw the picture I recognised myself. I have pictures of me wearing the same clothes!"

Her father, Geoff, of Hilton Close, Leigh, said the family lived in Grosvenor Road at the time and always went to feed the ducks in the park - and she had a cardigan just like that!

But there is also Kathryn Bennett (now Sawle).

She was identified by her stepmother, Mrs Lillian Bennett, of Ashley Drive, Leigh, who said the youngster, then aged three, often went into the park with her uncle.

"She knew all the ducks by name," recalled Mrs Ashley. "One she called Billy Red Nose used to bite her every week."

Mrs Ashley produced this shot of Kath, now of Shelley Street, Leigh, from that same era.

Karen Mullarkey is convinced the little girl is her.

"I was brought up near Firs Park and I often went to the lake to feeds the ducks," said Karen, of Woodgarth, Leigh. "I couldn't believe it when I first saw the picture in The Journal. But I got some old pictures out, and there I was, wearing the same cardigan. It was a pleasant surprise."

Denise Thorpe (now Brett), of Ennerdale Road, Leigh, reckons she is the little girl in the picture.

When the picture was taken she lived in Wigan Road and was a regular visitor to the park. She recognises the cardigan and spots HER tansad in the corner of the picture.

Finally, there is Gillian Kearsley, 36, of Holden Road, Leigh.

She was identified by her father, Ken Wilcox, of Wigan Road, Leigh, who said the family moved into Wigan Road in 1962 when he regularly took his three youngsters (Paul, Kim and Gillian) to the park.

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