When do the clocks go back - and do we lose or gain an hour?

British Summer Time ends this weekend, as Oldhamers get to enjoy an extra hour in bed. 

The clocks move BACK an hour at 2am on Sunday, October 28. 

In effect, we'll have the 1am hour all over again.

When the clocks go back, the UK will be on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

We're back to British Summer Time (BST) on Sunday, March 31, 2019.

But where does this weird tradition come from? And are it's days numbered?

The idea of moving clocks forwards and backwards was first suggested by American politician and inventor Benjamin Franklin, who came up with the idea when he was living in Paris in 1784.

He claimed if people got up earlier in the day - when it was brighter - then it would save on candles.

It didn't arrive in the UK until the early 1900s.

A builder called William Willet (who just happens to be the great, great, grandfather of Coldplay singer Chris Martin), published a document called "The Waste Of Daylight". 

He too wanted to encourage people to get up and out of bed earlier.

It was eventually introduced by the government in 1916.

Although daylight saving is observed across most of Europe and North America, hardly any countries in Africa and Asia change their clocks.

One less thing to worry about. 

Your smart phone should take care of the change in time this weekend. 

Most have daylight saving changes built in.

Things to do with your extra hour this weekend:

Othello plays at the Coliseum until Saturday night

http://www.coliseum.org.uk/plays/othello/

Catch "Halloween" at Oldham's Odeon in the Old Town Hall

https://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/oldham/222/

Head out with the kids to Daisy Nook Country Park

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200393/parks_countryside_and_canals/684/daisy_nook_country_park

Check out Saddleworth Museum and Gallery in Uppermill

http://www.saddleworthmuseum.co.uk/

Spooky George Street Chapel Experience Tour

http://www.visitoldham.com/whats-on/spooky-special-george-street-chapel-experience-tour-p392421

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