I LIVED in Kidderminster until I was 55. I had to retire from work through ill health and so my wife and I moved to North Somerset. Last week we sat down at 6pm to watch the ITV West regional news and to our astonishment we found much of the news was about good old Kidderminster.

Not the sad happenings to the Harriers, but about Wyre Forest District Council and their comments on the expression "ship shape and Bristol fashion", saying it is racist, as it refers to the slavery trade.

Much of the next 25 minutes comprised of ridiculing the idea, and, therefore, Kidderminster as well.

Cameras had been despatched to the lovely dockland development area of Bristol, indeed they were even on the superb replica of the sailing ship Mathew which is moored alongside the SS Great Britain.

On board, local historians were quick to point out that the council was very much misinformed, one going on to say "Kidderminster was renowned for its nautical history!".

The real meaning of the expression was explained - involving the trim of a ship before she sailed.

The consensus of the experts seemed to be that the council were talking through their hats.

After the historians, people of different colours and ages were stopped on the waterside for their opinions. They all treated the idea with the contempt it deserved.

Finally at the end of the news there was a phone-in/email-in, and every message again suggested the whole thing was unbelievable. One person actually asked if these Kidderminster people "were from this planet".

I have made many friends down here, and see many of them traditionally in the local. I am dreading the flak I will get .

I return to Kidderminster at least every three weeks, and to me it will always be my home town.

The antics of some councillors over the years have never failed to amaze me, and I would suggest the council think more carefully about any more sweeping comments.

Certainly they have made Kidderminster a bit of a laughing stock down here to say the least. When will these people learn?

CLIVE ARCHER

Crookes Lane, Kewstoke,

Weston-super-Mare