THESE youngsters pictured enjoying themselves at a Christmas party at King George's Hall in Blackburn in 1959 were all children of officers serving with the old Blackburn Borough Police Force.

It has been sent in by Mr Norman Forrest and his wife Jean of Openshaw Drive in Blackburn.

For six years Mr Forrest served as PC 69 with the Blackburn Borough Force and he remembers not being able to go along to the Christmas party because he was on duty.

The party was attended by the Chief Constable, Mr C J Looms, and it was traditional for Mr Looms' wife to play the piano for carols and games.

At the end of the party the youngsters would line up and get a gift from Father Christmas.

Mrs Forrest remembers her son Ian, then aged four, being given a big red bus.

"He said in a loud voice 'I don't want this, I want a motorbike' and that started all the other children off asking for something else. It was really embarrassing," she recalled. "The Christmas party was a real highlight for the children.

"The photograph had to be taken twice because on the first one, our daughter Stephanie who was only nine months old started crawling off on her own.

"It's interesting to think that those children are likely to have families of their own now," added Mrs Forrest, "and it would be nice to think that some people might recognise themselves."

Mr Forrest left the force because a new chief constable, Mr Bibby, said that the wives of serving officers were not allowed to run a business. Mrs Forrest had been running a grocers and her husband decided to join her.

A young Ian and Stephanie did manage a few quite moments during the party, left, and at least she was able to stay still long enough for this photograph.