A FEATURE in a national newspaper on Manchester United star Philip Neville has left the residents of Greenmount seeing red.

The article, by reporter Steve Millar, which appeared in Tuesday's edition of The Mirror, described the picturesque and affluent village as being made up of "tattered two-up and two-down homes".

Angry residents claim Greenmount is one of the nicest areas in the borough to live in.

Said an outraged Mrs Barbara Butterworth of Whispering Corner Cottage in Brandlesholme Road: "That man has obviously never been to Greenmount in his life or if he has he must need glasses. How can he possibly describe the area as being tattered?"

Mrs Butterworth has lived in Greenmount for 38 years and says it is a beautiful place to live in.

She added: "I'm totally disgusted. My cottage dates back to 1824 and it is certainly not a two-up, two-down tattered, shabby home."

In the article Mr Millar describes Greenmount Cricket Club where Philip Neville used to play as "being set amid tattered two-up and two-down houses" and goes on to say "but the humble surroundings saw the emergence of a batting star". The same "humble surroundings" are home to former Bury MP Mr Alistair Burt, the chairman of Bury Football Club Terry Robinson and business tycoon Mr Ron Wood.

And, says Mr Paul Harrison, partner in Harrison Estate Agents: "Considering the area is made up of tattered two-up and two-down houses, there are many people aspiring to live there!

"There are a number of houses within a six-hit distance of the cricket club that would cost up to and in excess of a million pounds."

A shocked Miss Nina Elwood, supervisor at the Bulls Head pub in the village, said: "I can't believe it. The Neville brothers come in here for a meal!

"It's a bit cheeky, considering millionaires live here!"

This week Mr Millar admitted he has never been to Greenmount and thought with it being a part of Bury it would be an industrial type village!

The apologetic reporter said: "I wasn't aware of the type of place Greenmount was and I do apologise to the residents living there and for any upset I have caused - I really have been hit for six this time."

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