RETIRED lorry driver Bill Heaton from Lincolnshire has forwarded a blast-from-the-past picture in the hope of attracting the attention of any of our readers who might be able to help boost his prized collection of photographs featuring the lorries of Manchester and North West firms.

The legendary Burkhill's transport cafe building in the background of the picture is still a familiar - though boarded up -landmark in the Carr Mill area of St Helens.

But, oh, how the traffic pattern of the East Lancashire Road, right on its doorstep, has changed - both in style and substance!

The date when the picture was taken is not supplied by Bill, but judging from the sparseness of the roadside privet hedging (now of towering proportions along parts of this Carr Mill section) it must date back several decades, perhaps to the 1950s.

Bill specially mentions the old Earlestown firm of A & A Taylor who used to carry for the Sankey Sugar Company; Fred Davies of Bold ; and the Pilkington glass company. But he'd also be delighted to see photos of the lorry fleets of any other old transport firms from around the area.

ANYONE able to help could either drop me a line at the Star - or contact Bill Heaton direct. His address is 'Fairholme', Eastville Road, Toynton St Peter, Spilsby, Lincs PE23 5AT, tel. 01754 830347.

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