TROUBLE BREW: The spirit of Christmas did not extend to thieves who broke into St John's Church hall in Shuttleworth. Not only did they raid the cupboards, stealing a large quantity of tea and sugar, but they also stripped the lights off the Christmas tree.

CARD SHARP: Bridge correspondent for the Bury Times Denis Robson of The Drive, Seedfield, and his playing partner, Bernard Goldenfield, of Dovehouse Close, Whitefield, were selected to play for England against Northern Ireland.

FRAMED!: A painting entitled The Holy Grail by Hawkshaw artist Fred Haworth was sold this week for a staggering £17,000, twelve months after it initially exchanged hands for a mere £580.

ZERO RATING: Around 470 ratepayers in the borough, whose homes were not connected to the main sewer, were informed they would be exempt from sewerage charges after a ruling by the House of Lords.

FA CUP: Bury beat Spennymoor United 3-0 at Gigg Lane during the second round of the FA Cup.

BEST WISHES: After giving a conditional discharge to a 57-year-old man charged with shoplifting, magistrates at Bury ordered the £15 prosecution costs to be paid out of public funds and then wished the accused "A Merry Christmas."

BY GEORGE!: A former tip adjacent to King George V Playing Field was to be restored at a cost of £11,000.