St Helens is a borough steeped in history and community spirit.
Home to Haydock Racecourse, the Dream and the most successful side in Super League history, St Helens RFC, residents have always had a strong sense of pride, dating back to their coal mining roots.
But while we know comedian Johnny Vegas is one of the town’s most famous sons and it's the capital of glass making, what was it like growing up in the area?
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We asked readers for their top memories and what people in the area know if they grew up in St Helens - and this is what they said.
The Kid Eating Snake (KES)
Many residents will remember playing on the 'big snake' in the Hardshaw Centre in St Helens town centre.
KES (Kid Eating Snake) was an impressive snake and ladder play sculpture that hundreds of children would climb on week in and week out.
Dave Helsby said: "I will always remember going to the shops with my mum on the promise that I could play on the big snake in the Hardshaw Centre.
"All good fun until someone broke wind in the middle of the snake. Great memories."
Wil Williams said: "As a young child, my memories of St Helens Town Centre are the old market that I thought only sold fish because of the smell, Toy & Hobby where Argos is now and most of all the death trap that was 'KES' (Kid Eating Snake) in the Hardshaw Centre."
Tropical fish in the 'Hotties'
In the town centre of St Helens , near Pilkington's glass manufacturer, is a section of the Sankey Canal known as the 'Hotties'.
Over the decades, residents have been seen fishing at the spot where you could "catch tropical fish."
David Guest said: "The hotties were unique to the town when I was a kid. The only canal with tropical fish!"
John Lancaster said: "You could catch tropical fish in the hotties in the 1970’s."
Mathew Horton posted: "What the Hotties canal is."
Town show
For years, generation after generation would head to Sherdley Park, the largest park in St Helens, to attend then one of the biggest events to be held in the town - the St Helens Show.
Held annually in the summer, the popular event began in 1968 and continued for decades, also briefly being reinvented in the early 2000s.
Attracting thousands of visitors from across St Helens and beyond, it was at one point in time the 'largest free show' in Europe and is still fondly remembered by residents today.
@chestylarue1976 tweeted: "Sherdley Show, Pilkingtons Head office, Eccleston Mere, Carr Mill Dam.
@Overlord_Anubis said: "How amazing Sherdley Show was and how you never realised how much you'd miss it till it was gone."
Sliding down 'mucky mountains'
Mucky Mountains is on the edge of an industrial site and is part of the Sankey Way.
@CllrJeanieBell tweeted: "Sliding down the mucky mountains down the canal in Earlestown on cardboard boxes."
@stelingard replied: "What Cllr Bell said! It's amazing the Borough hasn't been the source of international standard luge athletes, with that 'training facility' back in the 80s and 90s."
Knowing 'Johnny Welly'
If you speak to somebody from St Helens, there's a high chance they will know of local character, Johnny Welly- real name John Smith
If you haven't heard of Johnny - also known as Wellies, Wellyman and several other affectionate names - you obviously haven't spent much time in the area. John sadly died in 2021 but is well remembered.
Ryan Moore said: "Johnny Wellyman and Spam."
Mathew Horton commented: "The sense of humour of our people too, we are very self-deprecating but St Helens will always be home.
"Who Johnny Welly is."
Sean Reilly said: "Who Johnny Welly is."
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