10 YEARS AGO: Government figures showed that people living in Cumbria were twice as likely to die from cancer than in parts of southern England, despite big improvements in healthcare.

Around 4,000 adults and children took to opportunity to ride on Santa Specials at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

A dentist's chair was among the prop items needed by pupils at Barrow's Thorncliffe School for performances of Little Shop of Horrors. The February show would involve a cast of more than 30.

More than £1,000 was donated by people in Millom and Haverigg as Santa and members of the Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team toured the streets with a sleigh.

25 YEARS AGO: Ulverston Victoria High School was awarded £185,000 to develop its technology teaching. The cash came from the Department for Education's Technology Schools Initiative.

Barrow-based VSEL was to pay £1m for 2,600 new telephones, its largest investment in telecommunications. Grange Town Council was keen for a post bus to improve transport links to villages in the Cartmel peninsula.

Post buses collected and delivered mail as well as passengers and two were already in use at Grizedale and the Duddon Valley.

A narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was officially handed over to its new Japanese owners for use in a Tokyo leisure park.

50 YEARS AGO: A 1957 Standard 10 car was offered for sale at £35 by the Furness Park Service Station, Barrow.

A two-year-old Morris 1100 was £464. You could earn £13.75 per week as a bus driver for Barrow Corporation Transport. Conductors got 35p less.

The Coronation Hall at Ulverston had dancing to The Levenaires. Tickets were 37p.

Barrow AFC lost by three goals to nil away to Bournemouth. The match was watched by 4,799 people