NOTHING in this world is new.

The clampdown on roaming dogs is old hat, despite the recent signs on lampposts throughout the borough that they must be kept on leads and must not be allowed to litter pavements etc.

I inherited a piece of furniture this week which had a 40-year-old Journal lining the drawers.

It reveals that a woman was fined £1 by Leigh magistrates for allowing her dog to be in a road without a lead. Wow.

The adverts are amazing too, from the days when Leigh had numerous classy shops like Faircloughs, and Lewis's shoes, which imported the latest designs from Belgium, France and Italy, and Owens, in Market Street, which sold classic coats from £8 8s (£8.40).

The Co-operative Society's Mantle department also sold the latest fashions, with hats from 18s 11d (95p).

Luxurious lounge suites were available from Boardmans at 18 and a half guineas, and men's suits at Carleys in Railway Road cost between £7.17s 6d (£7.87p) and 12 guineas (£12.60).

Now food was a different matter. At the Friendly Superette at 84, Bradshawgate, lean gammon was 4s 1d (20p) a pound, but tinned peaches were reduced from 3s (15p) to 2s 6d (12p).

You can get them cheaper than that now. I've seen big tins of supermarket own brand for 9p - and they're not half bad. If only you could say that about other items.