THE main headline today told of the labour party calling for an all-out fight against racist right wing parties and the National Front, who had begun to overtake the Liberals in local and by-elections.

Another front page photo and story told how schoolchildren had a narrow escape when the top of a bus was ripped off by a low bridge.

The double deck Hyndburn Corporation bus ploughed under the railway bridge in Willows Lane, Accrington, on its way from Fern Gore to Dill Hall, Church.

The first of seven ambulances arrived on the scene within two minutes and 18 children and one man were taken to Accrington Victoria Hospital within 11 minutes of the crash.

The children from St Peter’s and St Oswald’s primary schools and Holy Family secondary school, Accrington, were treated for shock and minor cuts and bruises.

Only one girl was detained for a gash to her forehead and was later described as fairly satisfactory.

The driver Gilbert Rushton of Oswaldtwistle, who had been a busman for 40 years, was unhurt.

One of the children on the bus, 10-year-old Stephen Smith of Accrington, said: “I was going down the stairs when there was this bump and bits and pieces were falling on everyone’s head. It was very frightening; I got a small cut on my finger and I just dashed home.”

Colin Mansfield, Hyndburn traffic superintendent, said: “Thank God there was no serious injury, it’s a miracle. The bus was not travelling its usual route and there will be a full inquiry.”

As negotiations on the sale of the Cavendish Club in Blackburn continued, manager Sid Stewart moved to tell customers that it was very much business as usual and the town’s premier night spot was not closing down.Among the acts booked for the autumn were The Drifters, The Four Tops and Real Thing.