I NOTE with a certain amount of amusement the correspondence and views from County Hall on whether 'Blackburn with Darwen' unitary council is still "in Lancashire."

As a matter of fact the East Lancs "County" Boroughs of Blackburn and Burnley were in exactly the same position of self administration as unitary authorities now, in that until the 1974 boundary changes they administered most of their services.

They also for a large part of their existence ran their own police forces and fire brigades but were still considered Lancastrians.

In 1974 when the counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria and Warrington and Widnes were moved to Cheshire the Boundary Commissioners stated that the historical boundaries of Lancashire were not being abolished -- only the administrative areas were being changed.

So yes historic Lancashire still exists and the people of Blackburn and Darwen remain Lancastrians.

ALEX SMITH, Pinfold Place, Nelson.