SMOKE pollution was still heavy, but the air was gradually clearing for townsfolk 50 years ago.

These were the findings of a report by health experts, who had been making visits to factories as well as compiling statistics on the well-being of inhabitants.

Radcliffe Sanitary Inspector Mr G. Yates and Medical Officer for Health Dr C. Wade had in fact done a full survey of the town's health, and their diagnosis was generally good.

With a population of 27,540, Radcliffe had a live birth rate of 16.0, which was just above the national average for England and Wales.

Perhaps surprisingly for such an industrial town, Radcliffe had a relatively low infant mortality rate. This stood at 19.4, compared with the national rate of 26.8.

For the fifth year in a row, said the 1954 report, the town had remained free from diptheria.

However, there had been 237 cases of measles, 58 instances of scarlet fever and 20 of whooping cough.

The yearly death rate, 11.9 per thousand, was slightly above the national average and heart disease was responsible for one-third of the mortalities.

In his own section of the report, Mr Yates said that 1,723 house inspections were carried out and 21 of these were deemed unfit for human habitation.

Another 142 were found to be unsatisfactory, but the vast majority of these were soon made fit.

Mr Yates said that the problem of sub-standard housing would not go away. He said: "The rapid building of new houses appears to be the only solution."

Meanwhile, the war against vermin went on unrelentingly.

During the one-year period covered by the report, the rodent operator made 849 visits to premises in the town, with a kill of 865 rats and 308 mice.

The whole of the town's sewer system was treated with more than 1,000 manholes examined and bait laid on river banks.