Blackpool nostalgia in 1990: Christmas lights wrecked, car crime gang foiled and feeding the swans

BHS fights back over Sunday trading

Jingle tills were ringing despite the threat of legal action.

British Home Stores joined the national rebellion against Sunday trading laws and offered local shoppers an extra day to do their shopping.

The controversial decision was made by the store’s head office after bad weather forced many shoppers off the streets.

But the Blackpool branch, which opened, risked legal storms.

“I have no idea whatsoever what the consequences of our action will be,” a spokesman confirmed.

“But we are standing by the decision which was made by our head office and taken because of the bad weather.

“It clearly is time Sunday trading laws were sorted out or unified. There are too many anomolies. Just six miles up the coast, Cleveleys traders make a lot of money by opeing on a Sunday, while here it is quiet.”Houndshill manager Terry Platt applauded the courage of BHS but did not know whether his clients would want to follow suit and flout Sunday trade laws. He said: “We will just have to wait and see what their reaction is after today’s announcement.”

Mission to feed starving swans

Two workers sent out an SOS to Save Our Swans.

Electronics technicians Geoff Mason and John Davies posted SOS notices around ICI Hillhouse, after reading in The Gazette how 160 swans had flocked to Fleetwood boating lake in search of food and winter refuge. RSPCA Fylde branch secrety Margaret Bysterbosch appealed to bird lovers to help feed the starving flock.

The two ICI workers immediately helped by buying three sacks of grain, costing £5.15 each and taking it in turns to feed the swans.

However further help was needed. Mr Davies said: “They are beautiful birds and people in Fleetwood are proud they flock here every year.

“The problem is there are more birds than normal this year and they need our help to survive.”

Vandals wreck town's lights

Vandals were blacking out a town’s festive celebrations.

Christmas killjoys smashed more than 50 coloured light bulbs on Kirkham’s town edge tree.

Outraged town mayor David Armer warned that the plug would be pulled on the Christmas tree lights for the rest of the festive season if the vandals continued and were not caught. Fylde Council agreed to replace the bulbs a final time, but if vandals struck again, no more replacements would be provided.

Coun Armer said: “I think it is very sad. These people have got to be caught, whoever they are.

“They are mindless idiots and if they are youngsters, their parents should be brought to task.

“This sort of thing has happened before but never on this scale. In previous years, one or two bulbs were smashed after the pubs closed. This time someone is systematically smashing anything they can get their hands on.” If the new bulbs were smashed, councillors will have to provide their own replacements in time for their carol concert.

“If this vandalism continues, the lights will have to be switched off.”

Sophisticated vehicle ringing operation traced to Blackpool

A sharp eyed mechanic provided police with a vital clue which led them to a car ringing operation on the Fylde.

At least two seperate groups of rogue car dealers and thieves were acting in the North West, notching up an estimated £1m in stolen cars.

The Fylde based network involved car importers, garage owners and thieves.

The beginning of the end came when the owner of VW Golf GTi took his car to a garage in Bury St Edmunds for a new exhaust.

The motorist had bought the car for £8,500, not realising it had been stolen and given a new identity.

An alert mechanic noticed when the car was on the ramp and the serial number on the floor panel had been welded on - a sign that the car was a ringer.

He altered the police and the trail led to a Blackpool car importer.

The original accident damaged car bought in Germany had been switched with a similar car stolen in Stockport in July 1988.

Detectives were staggers at the sale of the fiddle when the network was finally smashed.

Raids on garages across the North West marked the climax of the police operation, codenamed Autolink.

Stunned police recovered so many suspect cars and parts they had to hire an aircraft hanger to house it all.