I DON'T know how long it is since 'J T F' lived in this village (BEN, February 7 -- 'Losing piece of history'), but I must inform him that the postal address for the area has been Stoneclough, Radcliffe, Manchester (as displayed in the Post Office window) for at least the last 40 years. We also have an M26 post code, which makes our insurance more expensive, and an 01204 phone code.

I can assure J T F that many attempts to change the postal address to 'Bolton' have been made, over the years, by local councillors, but to no avail. Our post is still collected and delivered from Radcliffe. I am pleased to say that the two parish churches of Prestolee and Ringley, and the two schools, retain these names. At the present time, projects by the Women's Institute to refurbish the Ringley Stocks, and the creation of a village green by the local Stoneclough Action Group, are ongoing. Plans have been passed for a Community Centre at Brook Street, near the Hare and Hounds, but finance is a problem.

I would draw the attention of J T F to the Bolton street atlas, page 31, which shows all three village names clearly marked.

Mrs M Haydock

Ringley Road,

Stoneclough,

Radcliffe

M26