New name for Lunt?

The rural community of Lunt is considering changing its name because of vandals who repeatedly deface the village sign. Residents of the historic Merseyside enclave fear it is becoming a laughing stock because of yobs who frequently deface the first letter of its name.

An alternative name has been proposed by some who are fed up of being greeted by an offensive word every time they enter their village.

Retired police officer Martyn Ball, a prospective Conservative councillor, is canvassing residents for their support for the change.

Dr Ball, now a law lecturer, said: "We are all painfully aware of the repeated times our village sign is defaced by mindless yobs who change the L to a C. Drive in every day and you see a very offensive word."

He has suggested that Launt be used as an alternative name, which he says would be pronounced the same.

But not all the inhabitants of the village next to Sefton in Merseyside are happy with the idea. Parish councillor Steward Dobson, 84, said: "This village is very, very old and people don't want the name changed.

"The vandalism has been done for years, it's not children who are doing it. I know that because we have decent children in this village."

David Roughley, whose family has farmed in Lunt since 1851, added: "At the end of the day we live in Lunt and we don't want to change because of a few yobs. It is the vandals who should change, not the village."

Lunt is an ancient settlement whose existence was first recorded in 1251 in the Chartulary of Cockersand Abbey, according to the village website.