A POSTCODE is a small six digit number after an address, but have you ever wondered if yours is right?

Len Reid, of Priory Lane, Penwortham, believes his is wrong - and if it is, it means he's paying too much for home insurance and car insurance, and anything else which depends on his postcode.

For Len's home is in the expensive PR1 zone.

He thinks his home should have a South Ribble postcode since that's where he pays his council tax.

He said: "Why should we pay the same insurance costs as someone living in the town centre when crime is far higher there than in Penwortham.

"Whenever I enquire about my council rates whether it is roads, cars, buses or anything I am told that I come under South Ribble and that I have to go to Leyland to sort it out!

Len insists he's not looking for money to be claimed back. He says his main goal is to ensure the people of Penwortham are not paying too much in the future.

And he's appealing to others to find out about this problem.

He believes that if there is a large public response, they could change their postcode and reduce the cost of their bills.

"People in Ashton have a PR2 postcode while Ingol is PR4.

" Those areas are both paying rates to the Preston Council yet we are under South Ribble and are PR1," he said.

"If more people are aware of this then possibly something could be done."

Anyone wanting to find out more about this can call Len on 01772 751456 to help organise the next step.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.