THE last reel may have long since gathered dust or been thrown on the scrapheap, and the last curtain closed, but memories of the cinema and theatre in Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Astley and Golborne are still fresh for many local people.

And it is these memories that Local History Librarian Tony Ashcroft hopes to tap.

For Mr. Ashcroft, based at Leigh Library, is hoping many former patrons will still have memorabilia, including programmes, tickets and even old photographs of local cinemas and theatres that he can borrow and copy.

It is all in the name of preserving the area's heritage and the results could end up in a book on the subject before the end of the year.

Mr. Ashcroft said: "Thousands of people from throughout the area went to the cinema on a very regular basis as well as going to the theatre, in some cases to both in the same building when they converted from one use to another, and many probably kept old programmes, film magazines, tickets and other memorabilia.

"Some may even have photographs they took of the places they visited, and it is these that I am particularly keen to contact.

"I am trying to build as much information as possible and if anyone has information or pictures that I can borrow and copy then I would love to hear from them.

"And it is possible that much of the material could be used for a book that is being planned on the subject for publication later in the year."

Anyone who can help is invited to contact Mr. Ashcroft at Leigh Library on 01942 404404.

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