10 YEARS AGO: Plans were being drawn up to drastically cut the number of Catholic churches in Furness. Among those facing a closure threat were St Anthony's at Askam, St Patrick's at Barrow and the Holy Family Church, Barrow.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron wrote to Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Transport, calling for a meeting over the level of bus fares in Cumbria.

New figures revealed that one in seven new police officers in Cumbria quit within two years of joining.

Millom councillors decided to throw their weight behind renewed calls for a bridge across the Duddon Estuary.

A semi-detached bungalow at Spring Vale, Swarthmoor, was offered for sale at £199,950. A terraced house at Rodney Street, Barrow, was £77,500.


25 YEARS AGO: The latest recruit at Barrow's Craven Park rugby league ground was to be Australian Terry Bullen - a 6ft 3in, 16-stone forward.

One secondary school pupil in every Furness classroom was suspended or expelled for bad behaviour last year, according to new county figures.

Walney School's new £1.5m wing was handed over by the builders. It included a stained glass window designed by pupil Ben Slater.

Kendal College students carried a coffin through the streets of Barrow to promote their new show Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo.

50 YEARS AGO: Barrow bus staff on an overtime ban were warned they could lose a Christmas bonus if they stopped the recruitment of trainee conductors.

Thomas Henry Hatch retired as supervisor of Barrow's Abbey Road Baths after 20 years. The former Barrow AFC player, of Longway, had worked at the baths for a total of 38 years.

Barrow Town Council was to seek approval from the minister of health to borrow £35,195 for a child welfare clinic at Central Drive, Walney.

The Barrow branch of the Royal Naval Association celebrated its fourth anniversary with a social evening in the Valiant Club, in School Street, Barrow.