51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

You are right to point to the higher education strength of Greater Manchester ("North flexes muscles", November 25). But your statistics underplay the importance.

Manchester does not have a population of 2.4 million; it has a population of 430,000. It is Greater Manchester that has a population of 2.5 million. And if you consider Greater Manchester you need also to consider the staff and students at Bolton 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, the Royal Northern College of Music and Salford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ.

If you do that, the size and importance of higher education in Greater Manchester is more in line with London than your piece suggests.

Paul Rowlett

Salford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ