THE shadowy 'Bogey Man', an imaginary figure calculated to get kids indoors by dusk and up to their beds, appears to have had a rival in the night-time scary stakes.

He was the Galosher Man, another figment of parental imagination several decades ago. Or was he?

A town-centre reader (name and address supplied) who wishes to be known as Nutgrover, isn't at all sure whether or not he existed.

After reading my recent Bogey Man tale, he wrote in about the silent-footed Galosher Man and received instant e-mail responses from two different areas of the borough, plus a third one from cousins living in Australia.

One lady asked if Nutgrover was referring to the Clinkham Wood Galosher Man, reputed to frequent the woods up there.

The other local response was from a Rainhill lady who mentioned that their particular Galosher Man, in addition to putting the wind up young kids, used to raid people's yards and gardens, stealing bits and pieces, including old-fashioned washing mangles.

"In my own particular childhood area of Thatto Heath", says Nutgrover, "I can't ever recall meeting up with this mysterious character. I just heard about him. But it appears there could have been clones of him all over the district, unless he was a well-travelled and extremely fit individual".

One of Nutgrover's Aussie cousins says that the after-dark prowler wore a long dirty mac as well as galoshers (rubber shoes); while a second one claims that her sister-in-law was chased by the Galosher Man along Main Avenue, Grange Park, many years ago.

And Nutgrover signs off: "I think I'd better finish at that, and let your readers digest the details. If my own e-mail is anything to go by, you could finish up with a full page".

COME on then, you long-memoried lot. Can you recall the Galosher Man, or any other frightening characters from times when it was safe for kids to be out at play until the sun went down? If so, please drop me a line at the Star.