EMERGENCY SURGERY: A small fire broke out in the orthopaedic operating theatre at Fairfield General Hospital. The fire, which was quickly extinguished, was in a small container holding a chemical cleaner used to fumigate the theatre after operations.

AWAY WIN: It was Bury 1 Shrewsbury 3 when the teams met in the second round of the FA Cup at Gigg Lane. That was not the final score, Bury magistrates heard the following day, but the number of arrests following unruly scenes in the crowd during the game. Mr Paul Bland, prosecuting, described how police had to form a cordon between rival fans as they shouted obscenities at each other and fighting broke out on the terraces.

FESTIVE FEAST: Bury's Co-op store was offering Norfolk turkeys at 42p per lb, Black Magic chocs at 99p a box, Gordons gin at £3.85 a bottle and cans of Stella at 21p each.

ROLL BACK: A Prestwich car dealer was offering a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow for sale at £10,995. An estate agent was offering a three-bed, gas centrally heated, fully double glazed house in Fernview Drive, Holcombe Brook, for £700 less.

LIVE FROM NORWICH: A new television comedy show on ITV was to start with the opening line: 'And now ladies and gentlemen from Bury it's The Little and Large Telly Show starred the Lancashire comedians, Syd Little and Eddie Large. Bury was mentioned because Eddie lived with his wife and two children in Trimingham Drive, Brandlesholme.

YOUTH PROBLEMS: A retired master at Bury Grammar School spoke to members of Ramsbottom and Tottington Probus Club. His talk was entitled 40 Years On. He said that in the 1930s he was asked to speak to the same organisation and his notes of that occasion covering the problems of young people were just as relevant in 1976.