DUCK down into the old air-raid shelter, because the bombs are still raining down on St Helens.

Denis Brown is the latest customer of this column to don the trusty old tin hat in recounting his own boyhood experiences during the second world war. And he confidently pinpoints where the very first German bombs thudded down on the town.

Denis, from Gerards Lane, Sutton Leach, says: I can remember it well as I then lived in Pine Avenue, Windlehurst. The first bomb fell through the roof of the second house in City Gardens, right opposite Gamble Memorial Hall.

"The bombs had obviously been meant for the nearby Pilkington glassworks, because the enemy must have had information that Pilks were making windscreens for fighter planes."

The second bomb, he adds, landed in the middle of the red shale tennis court which was on the Bishop Road side of St Mark's field.

"The court, believe it or not, was marked out with two-inch wide lead strips, fastened down with six-inch nails."

The blast created a fairly large crater . . . "and running away from this was the lead strip, rolled up as if someone had purposely done this." Bomb No.3, says Denis, landed in the back garden of his boyhood pal, Joe Rotherham's house in Bishop Road. "Joe was huddled under the stairs with his mum (perched on the gas meter) when the bomb landed."

It had flattened the greenhouse, thrown dirt up on to the house roof, smashed all the windows at the rear of his home and cracked the walls. Luckily, Denis recalls, no-one was hurt.

Another pal, Geoff Dawes, also lived in Bishop Road -- between where the two bombs crashed down -- and was suprised to find himself sharing a bed with young Joe. Geoff's father was a policeman, known throughout the district as Bobby Dawes. He happened to be on duty that night and, discovering Joe's plight, took him to his own home for safety.

Continuing the air-raid theme, Denis says that a fourth bomb fell at the junction of Rivington Avenue and Gamble Avenue. Again, no-one was injured, which certainly made it a miraculous escape all round.

Denis adds that both of these pals now live in Canada but have never met up with each other since emigrating. This is probably because they live further away from each other than they do from Denis!

"I am still in touch with Geoff," explains Denis, "but I've not heard anything from Joe for more than 40 years. I did spot a letter from him once in Whalley's World, so he must be on the internet. If he sees this piece, I hope he might get in touch. It would be nice to hear from him again."

Joe's family was re-housed the day after their great escape, moving firstly to Thirlmere Avenue, Clinkham Wood. After a short while they then switched to Hard Lane and, finally, (before he emigrated) to Speakman Road, Dentons Green.

HERE'S hoping that the two old chums can be put in touch once more, via the wonders of the world-wide web.