MADAM, We should be grateful to the Labour Leader Ed Miliband for his gaffe recently at Prime Minister's Questions regarding Herefordshire or Hertfordshire as it allows me to comment on a contentious issue.

I have lived in Ross-on-Wye for more than 30 years and frequently our mail is addressed to Ross-on-Wye, Hertfordshire.

However when I lived and worked in Hertfordshire in towns such as Hertford, Hoddesden, and Bishops Stortford, I cannot ever remember that county being mistaken for Herefordshire. Is there a sad lack of education in the geography of our country or is it just inattention to details such as spelling.

That well known elocution teacher Professor Henry Higgins and his pupil Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) obviously knew the differences. "Now repeat after me. In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever happen."

Thank goodness for post codes.

Gordon Amand, Ross