RATES and council cuts made headline news on January 26, 1984.

We told readers where the cuts would be made, with school meals and parking charges set to rise along with 50p per week extra on council property rents and the loss of 25 teaching jobs.

But it was better new for the 400 employees at J&J Hayes Victoria Mill in Leigh.

An export boost meant the workforce that had been on a four-day working week since before Christmas was now back to full-time operation.