Which is more important - political correctness or correct English? Well, decide for yourself.

A letter from Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish on Thursday last week congratulating the people who took part in the London-to-Brighton veteran car run began: "It's a braver soul than I who can brace himself against gusting autumn winds and torrential rain."

Council Press officer Belinda Nash complains: "We are thrilled when you print letters from Coun Bodfish but in the interest of 21st Century language would appreciate the editing process maintaining non-gender specific language.

"Coun Bodfish had said 'brace themselves'. Subtle though it may be, your change eliminated all women drivers and companions who were part of the day's proceedings.

"The council operates an equal opportunities policy which we actively uphold and are very proud of.

"It is important our council leader is seen to forge a path ahead, not remain in the shadow of long-outdated notions of prose."

Hear, hear, Belinda, but in the interest of 21st Century language (whatever that is), I must point out that if you refer to "a (singular) braver soul" then it follows that you cannot then refer to that person as "themselves" (plural).

Admittedly, we should have made the letter say "It's braver souls" but I wonder if our editing really was a setback for women's equality and whether your time couldn't have been spent more productively.

We did poorly edit Joan Makin's letter the same day about Labour MP Diane Abbott's decision to have her son privately educated when she is on record as being against non-State education.

Joan, from Hove, says: "It looked like I was against private schools. I am not. It is the hypocrisy of this Labour government that I abhor." Now we know.

Jean Loveland, from Brighton, says our Eat, Drink And Be Merry advertising feature last Friday mistakenly said restaurants with children's soft play areas included the Devil's Dyke Brewers Fayre pub.

"This has not been there for months," she says. "The area now has tables and chairs." Thanks.

Rebecca Bacon, from Ashington, spotted what appeared to be a strange phrase in agony aunt Rebecca Gray's advice column on Wednesday last week.

Her reply to a woman who had fallen out with two friends said: "I don't think this casts nasturtiums on their friendships with you."

Rebecca says: "Shouldn't this have read 'aspersions'?"

Brenda Street, from Worthing, and Russell Ridout, from Hailsham, also spotted it and Russell wonders whether Rebecca planned to "branch out" and become our gardening correspondent!

Well, for those that don't know, the phrase is a common one, an ironic malapropism, a correctly-spelt word used in the wrong context.

It comes from Mrs Malaprop, a character in Sheridan's play The Rivals, who was constantly muddling her words.

It goes to show our Rebecca is well read.

And finally, Matthew Irish asks that since, as of last week, Brighton and Hove residents can now get the TV channel Five on analogue television wouldn't it be wise for us to give its programmes the same prominence on our television pages as the other terrestrial channels?

Well, Matthew, the answer is yes we will but, like Five, it might be a while in coming!