10 YEARS AGO: Thousands of Lakeland watersports fans were to have their say next year about plans to change Windermere navigation and boat registration bylaws.

A £20,000 lifeline was given by the Esme Fairbairn Trust to a charity called The Pentalk Network which helped isolated Cumbrian farmers to develop computer communication skills. You could earn up to £25,320 as a trainee planning officer with Cumbria County Council.

Silecroft swimmer Matt Bowe was due to head to the United States on Boxing Day as part of his preparations for the Olympic trials for Beijing 2008.

25 YEARS AGO: Three artists from the Ulverston-based arts group Welfare State International were to appear on BBC children's show Blue Peter to talk about their work. Gill Gill and Gavin Lewery made lanterns and Nikki Gunson created costumes for the 10th anniversary lantern procession in the town.

Barrow council was to go ahead with plans for a staff pay freeze and there were fears that some town hall workers could face redundancy.

South Lakes planners were told that legal action might be needed to stop commercial event signs being put up without permission at exit 36 on the M6 in South Cumbria.

Latest tests showed that the newly discovered Walney gas field contained deposits in "reasonable quantities"

50 YEARS AGO: Grange Townswomen's Guild celebrated its 21st birthday with a special party at Berners Close. A birthday cake was made by Betty Evans.

Recruitment started for a new intake of Barrow police cadets. Starting pay was £315 per year.

Foot-and-mouth disease restrictions blocked the plans of up to 400 youth hostelers who had planned to spend Christmas in the Lake District. The Youth Hostel Association decided to keep its eight sites closed until at least January 11.

The Furness Water Board received complaints from people living in Kents Bank, near Grange, that their water supplies were dirty.