AN historic first ever edition of the Evening News has been discovered among a discarded bundle of papers.

Worcester newsagents, John and Angela Williams, stumbled over the 68-year-old publications, when a friend, Reg Mogford, gave them a handful of newspapers he found lying forgotten behind some old filing cabinets.

After wiping away the dust, Angela realised that among the five editions from 1935, one dated Tuesday, January 29, was volume one, number one.

Now, John, who recently set up football coaching sessions to keep youngsters on the Ronkswood estate out of trouble, hopes to sell the copies and buy extra equipment for the newly-formed squad.

"We were really surprised when we opened the bundle of papers and discovered the first ever edition," said Mrs Williams.

"It was really interesting to read - there's even one story about a man being fined in Wyld's Lane for riding a cycle without a light after dark - that's amazing with what you think goes on now."

Priced at a penny, the first Evening News edition carried a national report on the trial of train driver David Kerr, who was involved in a locomotive collision in Glasgow.

Closer to home, Hannah Walker, of Cleveland House, Malvern, left an estate of £24,056 in her will. A Droitwich man was fined £5 for causing a collision on Spetchley Road and McCowen's in Silver Street was advertising Loch-Ness maggots for sale at 15d (old pennies).

On Friday, August 30, it was reported that large audiences crammed into Worcester's Public Hall for Evening News cookery demonstrations, lead by Miss Ann Baker, expert demonstrator from the College of House Keeping.

In 1935, a new Morris ten car was £165, while a newly built detached three-bedroom villa in London Road cost £650.

The couple, who own Weston News, in Lichfield Avenue, have already bought footballs and training cones from £280 raised by the council, church, a raffle and individual donations.

Anyone interested in purchasing the papers can contact John Williams on 01905 356622.