JOIN the Bury Times as we travel back 50 years to the headlines on March 26, 1969, when schools, cracked eggs and a talented snooker player had the town talking. BRAD MARSHAL takes a look back in the archives...

PLANS can now go ahead on a new primary school to replace St Thomas's, Bury Education Committee has been told.

But hopes have been dashed for early extensions to St Gabriel's RC Secondary School, which could be faced with overcrowding problems this September.

The Government's Department of Education and Science has given approval for the 280-place St Thomas's School, twice shelved due to financial restrictions, after a delegation visited the borough.

The £66,000 school is to be built off Pimhole Road, however no start date for construction has yet been fixed, and final sketch plans are still to be decided.

However, extensions to St Gabriel's will have to be re-examined in conjunction with a reorganisation of Roman Catholic education in Bury, The Secretary of State for Education has said.

Built from only 510 pupils, St Gabriel's is the only Roman Catholic secondary school in the borough, and now accommodates nearly 650 children.

By September it could be faced with finding places for 700 pupils, not only from Bury but also from adjoining Lancashire County areas.

RADCLIFFE snooker player John Spencer clinched the world professional snooker championship on Saturday ­— in just 16 minutes.

That was the length of time it took for Spencer to win the vital frame as triumphed over Birmingham's Gary Owen in the 73-frame final at London's Victoria Hall.

Spencer, who turned professional just two years ago, led by 36 frames to 24 at the start of Saturday's play ­— only one away from the title.

He went on to take the frame 78-35 and the final score was 46 frames to 27.

Spencer's mother, sisters and brothers all journeyed down to watch the final stages of the six-day match.

Also there to applaud his victory was his fiancee Margot Sawbridge. The couple plan to marry on April 5 at Bury Registry Office.

A BURY market farm produce trader of more than 20 years has hit out at the "outrageous" price of cracked eggs.

The president of Bury Market Traders Association, Mr James Myerscough, claims that the Egg Board are "swindling" the public by putting up the price of a dozen cracked eggs, or seconds eggs, by 1s. 9d..

Mr Myerscough says the Board have introduced the new price to discourage the public from buying seconds, and that he would like to such eggs back on the market at a reasonable price.

He added: "Four years ago a housewife would ask for a dozen normal and a dozen cracked or misshapes for baking, but now with this outrageous price they want only a dozen normal.

"At this new rate, the producer or farmer is missing out, whereas the Board is making a profit of 2s. 4d. on every dozen seconds sold.

"They pay the producer only 8d. and sell wholesale at 3s. a dozen."