LEIGH Library has announced details of its Centenary Charter Celebrations.

Their special events start on Monday and run to August 14, and include "Leigh-100 Years Ago", the "Leigh Town Trail" and a charter exhibition.

For the younger age group there will be story telling and a chance to play with toys from years ago.

Tracy Pozar, career team librarian, said: "Leigh is really gearing up for these celebrations, and we are delighted to be contributing to this major milestone in Leigh's history."

The programme starts on Monday, August 2, 12noon to 1pm, with the history of cinemas and theatres in Leigh in the Derby Room. Admission is free.

Local historian, Tony Ashcroft, leads the Leigh Town Trail on Tuesday, at 10am, tickets £1.

Anyone interested should join him in the library foyer, the start of a fascinating walk around the town centre. A story and activity hour for under fives gets underway on Wednesday, from 11am to noon in the Turnpike Gallery. Admission is free.

Also on Wednesday local librarian, Trevor Lucas, will take visitors on a free trip down memory lane - a slide show of Leigh 100 years ago, complete with memorabilia.

On Thursday there will be wandering poets in the town centre, and between 2pm and 3pm in the Derby Room there will be an entertaining hour of music and readings featuring among others Tom Burke and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Friday, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, brings the chance to take a guided tour of the library and to see the special collections held there. Free tickets are available at the library, but places are limited.

Thursday, August 12, brings Leigh Cemetery Walk when historian Tony Ashcroft will lead a stroll around the grounds. Meet at the gates at 10am, tickets are £1 and available from the library.

A Festival of Transport scheduled for Saturday, August 14, has been put back to October.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.