Lancashire nostalgia in 1983: Preston bomb blast slur; bus station spotlight; and stage test

Some areas of Preston, like Fleetwood Street, require some regeneration work

Here's a look at some of the stories that were making the headlines back in 1983:

Preston bomb blast slur rocks town chiefs

A six-word blast on the state of Preston has rocked town leaders.

The magazine image of a landscape “somewhere between Hiroshima and the Bronx” has left council chiefs shell-shocked.

Preston bus station finds itself under the spotlight again

“I can’t believe it. Preston is a beautiful place,” said one former mayor.

The picture of destruction and decay comes in a Sunday newspaper colour supplement.

At the end of a survey on colleges and polytechnics the town is criticised for its rain and landscapes.

The instant Mayor Coun Mrs Dorothy Challoner spotted the remark she cut it out and handed it to the town clerk asking: “Ought we to do something about this?

“It was grossly unfair. We have some very beautiful buildings in Preston.

“We are doing our best to improve the environment and our urban renewal programme is second to none in the North West.”

The polytechnic students’ union denied it was responsible for the comment.

“We filled in the questionnaire but so too did heads of departments and other staff,” said president Paul Holton.