THE big attraction at Horwich market back in 1984 wasn’t the bargains to be had but the chance to see the latest equipment for getting rid of your rubbish.

Yes, the wheelie bin was coming to Bolton and hundreds of people went along to find out more about these strange contraptions on wheels.

The ‘big wheelies’ - extra large capacity, plastic bins were due to be going on trial in both Horwich and Blackrod later in the month and the council staged a special event to introduce them to householders.

Ian Liversedge, the council’s environment boss said: “There were pensioners there, people who just wanted to look at the system and other who expressed satisfaction with the present refuse collection system and felt that the new plan would create problems.”

Under the wheelie bin system, different coloured ‘bins’ would be used for different types of refuse allowing for greater recycling with collections for different bins to be held on different days.

New, specially-adapted bin wagons were also at the open day and demonstrations were given of how the wheelie bins would be emptied.

The wheelie bin was still a relatively unknown sight in 1984 with only a few local authorities having changed from the traditional metal dustbin.

Originally designed for collecting waster within factories, it soon became clear that wheelie bins would reduced the strain on refuse collectors who previously had to life full, heavy metal bins which weren’t on wheels.

Now the wheelie bins are just part of everyday life - how many people under 30 would actually recognise the old, corrugated metal bins? But back in 1984 it was a new experience.