Work started on a £1m extension to the Travelodge hotel, in Park Road, Barrow. It was expected to create five new jobs.

Peter Roe, former boss of the Barrow Raiders rugby league team, was in the running for the coaching vacancy with Workington Town.

The Lake District was to be the scenic backdrop to a major Bollywood movie called Mr Bhatti on Holiday, starring Anupam Kher.

Slower summer sales were part of the reason behind the announcement that up top 31 jobs would go at the McBride detergent plant in Park Road, Barrow.

25 YEARS AGO

It was claimed that Ormsgill's giant slag bank would disappear by the year 2006 - to be replaced by a pleasant open space with cliffs and a beach. Contractors Caird Environmental wanted to move seven million tons of the Barrow Ironworks slag to South East England for road building.

Walney Amateur Operatic Society was looking for a Staffordshire bull terrier to play Bill Syke's sidekick in a production of the musical Oliver! at Forum 28.

Ken Allen, of Ulverston; Zelle Frost. of the Green, near Millom and John Gale, of Cark, were showing paintings in the Firness Galleries, at Theatre Street, Ulverston.

You could rent a shop in Middlefield, Ormsgill, from Barrow Council for £4,500 a year.

50 YEARS AGO

Higher charges to use Barrow docks would be the result of an end to the casual labour system for dockers, it was claimed. The 45 men working at the docks were now employed and could expect to make an extra £4 per week.

Building work was well advanced on a terrace of seven new houses at St Michael's Road, Rampside. Prices would start at £3,500.

You could earn up to £705 a year as a recording draughtsperson for Lakeland, working for the North West Electricity Board.

Peter Dowling, chairman of Barrow's housing committee faced a barrage of insults and questions at a public meeting into planned council house rent rises.