OUR 'mystery bottles' topic, kept alive over recent weeks by readers owning old St Helens specimens (including pop bottles with glass-marble stoppers in the neck) just keeps on clinking along.

There's quite a bit left in the pipeline for next week. But, just for now, Tony McGrath, of Billinge, solves an earlier riddle in identifying the pop-maker's imprint found on one such bottle as referring to the old-time Parr firm of Ryders - mineral water and botanic brewer - based in Ashcroft Street between 1895-1905.

Tony, a keen collector of local bottles, himself seeks a bit of help. He has a stone ginger beer bottle inscribed 'Hall, St Helens 1860', but his quest for info about that firm has so far drawn a blank.

H ANYONE able to supply a clue or two?