ON THIS DAY

56 years ago ( 1964)

As Labour swept to victory at the polls, our front page also covered the shock move to oust Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

The official line was that the politician had asked to be relieved of his duties due to failing health.

But there had been growing opposition to his failed economic policies, his disputes with China and his climb- down over the Cuban Missile Crisis.

42 years ago ( 1978)

Pope John Paul II became the first non- Italian Pope for 400 years.

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, a Pole and former Archbishop of Krakow, appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in front of a crowd of 200,000 well- wishers.

He later survived an assassination attempt in May 1981.

24 years ago ( 1996)

Home Secretary Michael Howard announced a ban on the sale of handguns in the UK and stricter gun licence rules in the wake of the Dunblane massacre, when 16 children and a teacher were murdered and 15 others injured in a shooting spree by deranged former scout leader Thomas Hamilton.