THAT hoary old chestnut raised its head again this week – that Huddersfield is the largest town in Britain.

The myth probably started when wool was king and textile barons boasted of Huddersfield’s fame while competing places like Bradford and Leeds gained city status. But it simply is not true.

However, you should be careful who you correct in the heat of a bar-room debate. I almost got thumped a year or so ago when I attempted to correct a gentleman who was asserting with loud authority that our fair town was the biggest in Britain.

My chum Al was drawn into a similar discussion only recently but couldn’t remember which was the largest town in Britain. For future reference, Al, it’s Reading.

According to the 2001 census, Huddersfield was 10th. According to a more recent table, compiled for the BBC, it is now 11th. The list is: Reading (population 232,662), Dudley (194,619), Northampton (189,474), Luton (185,543), Milton Keynes (184,506), Walsall (170,994), Basildon (169,822), Bournemouth (167,527), Southend (160,257), Swindon (155,432), Huddersfield (146,234).