FURTHER to the stimulating and amusing article in Podium (Warrington Guardian, February 2) perhaps I might try to clarify the situation with regards to the standing of Warrington in relation to counties.

The Local Government Acts of 1888, 1933 and 1972, together with associated orders in council, were only concerned with the creation and amendment of administrative areas.

As it happened, the 1888 and 1933 Acts aligned the new county council areas with the traditional counties.

However the 1972 act amended the boundaries of many of the county council areas so they no longer aligned with the traditional counties.

Although the Government clearly stated in 1974 (when the act came into force) the traditional counties were not altered in any way, this has clearly not been understood or recognised by the media, various bodies and organisations and Government itself.

It is therefore not surprising that confusion has reigned since.

Successive Governments have confirmed traditional counties still exist, so Warrington remains in Lancashire.

Unfortunately, ceremonial counties (used for a variety of purposes) often do not align with the traditional counties – this is what brings about most confusion.

Warrington is within the ceremonial county of Cheshire.

To precis, Warrington is classified as follows: Traditional County (Official Term): Lancashire Historic County (Alternative Official Term): Lancashire Geographical County (Used by Ordnance Survey): Lancashire Ceremonial County: Cheshire For address purposes, Royal Mail lists both Lancashire and Cheshire on its postal address file and either may be used in association with the relevant post code.

The Friends of Real Lancashire (FORL) and the Association of British Counties (ABC) campaign for an end to this confusion and to preserve, protect and promote the traditional/historic counties of Britain – they also campaign to ensure that the term county is only used in relation to the former and not to administrative or ceremonial areas.

MARTIN PHILIPS Secretary FORL