MR JOLLEY'S statement in last week's Citizen cannot remain unchallenged.

He writes that Hutton cannot call itself a village as it does not have a church.

What he may not realise is that Hutton once had a chapel, certainly in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Evidence for this is found in the Cockersands Chantulary, documents kept by the monks at Cockersands Abbey.

The monks had a Priory a Penwortham and Hutton was part of its parish.

There are many references to the chapel in these documents, including its location in Uredale, possibly near the Mill Brook, adjacent to a ford crossing the Ribble Sands to Lea. Hutton, therefore, has always been known as a village and is still a village at heart, with thriving local groups using our Village Hall, hard-fought and worked for.

In spite of enlargement, which is common to all villages around Preston, we are not 'an urban sprawl'.

There are still green belts separating Hutton from Penwortham and Hutton from Longton. Long may they stay.

Hutton Grammar School was founded in 1549, by Christopher Walton to teach the local children the alphabet. Originally in Longton, it was moved to Hutton in the mid-1740s to provide more accommodation for pupils and master.

It was defined as a fee-paying grammar school in 1876, but still gave free places to some local children.

When Lancashire County Council abolished the 11-plus exam in the early 1950S, the trustees of the school decided to become comprehensive, but entry was still selective on a religious basis.

It was allowed to retain its name as a grammar school.

Mr Jolley would do well to obtain a copy of Dr Alan Crosby's excellent book, "Hutton: A Millennium History", then he would get his facts right!

Marian Roper, Hon secretary, Hutton Local History and Interest Society.