A SPECIAL Star publication celebrating the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Borough of St Helens is on the news stands.

The 40-page nostalgia edition looks back on how life was back in 1868 and reflects on the development of St Helens over the decades.

It includes some fascinating imagery – sourced from the archives of the council, the Star and various contributors.

Features and research have been led by former St Helens Star editor Steve Leary, local historian Steve Wainwright and the Star’s sports writer and author Mike Critchley.

Steve Leary, who was editor of the Star for 22 years, said: “In these pages we explore what the St Helens of 150 years ago was like and also travel back in time to the eras of our other two big anniversaries of 1918 and 1968.

“We also salute the extraordinary spirit of all those who have flown the flag for St Helens down the years from go-getter entrepreneurs to pioneers of science and from war heroes to world class sportsmen and women.

“That same golden quality is still woven deep into the fabric of St Helens and its people. Today we may have lost many of the industrial giants and all of the 30 or so collieries of 150 years ago fell silent long ago.

“But St Helens is still abundantly rich in one irreplaceable raw material; its people.

“The place which once produced mighty captains of industry is still breeding heroes.”

Among the features are profiles on some of the greatest people to come out of St Helens, news snippets from 1868, a quiz on Saints’ history and a portrayal of the club’s all-conquering 2006 team.

The publication is for sale, priced £1, in newsagents across St Helens from this week. It will also be available from the Star’s office in Century House, Hardshaw Street from Monday, July 9.