CHESHIRE, I was taught long ago as a school boy, is a pan-shaped county and so it was, and still is.

Longdendale is the handle; The Wirral, with King Canute’s famous seashore, the spout; part of what is now Greater Manchester, the lid; the rest is the pan itself – Cheshire.

Our splendid and world famous county capital belongs to us all and gives its name to the whole county – Chestershire. It makes no sense to perpetrate the politically-geared split of Cheshire by Hazel Blears.

Those now exiled into other authorities still cling to the name Cheshire in their postal addresses.

From Hyde to Romiley, Marple, Hale and Bowden, try telling them they are not in Cheshire.

Since the Romans built their communicating roads from ManCHESTER to CHESTER, we have been an entity.

Alan Dean Carrwood Knutsford