PUBLIC benches which told a story while you had a rest were the latest thing for Barrow town centre in 2002.

he Mail, On Saturday, May 4, noted that the benches were the idea of artist Mil Stricevic and poet Ben Coode-Adams.

The article said: "Local writers have created stories and poems which were recorded.

"The recordings, powered by solar panels in the frames, have been embedded in the benches and can be accessed by headphones."

There were 12 benches, including in front of the central library, outside McDonald's and near the town hall and railway station.

Many of the stories were provided by Walney's Kate Davies and other stories and poems by John Hall, of Barrow Island.

The readers included Molly Muckelt, Sue Kysh and Arnie Sharples.