NEWS Flash - the highest village on our patch is now officially the most lofty settlement in Britain.

Experts from Ordnance Survey have decided, once and for all, the age-old argument between Flash and the gold-mining town of Wanlockhead in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland - and our village triumphed by a whopping 102ft.

On the village signs, the Scottish competitor declares itself to be 1531ft above sea level, whereas Flash, with a population of 70, is a lowly 1518ft.

But last week the BBC - for their new prime-time programme 'The One Show' - sent in the professionals using satellite technology to measure the highest house in both villages, which produced some surprising results.

Flash leapt up in height 40ft to 1558ft, while Wanlockhead, with a population of 156, was downgraded to a meagre 1456ft - much to the chagrin of the Scots.

The villagers in Flash have been overjoyed at the news broadcast last Wednesday night - none more so than Manchester firefighter, John Higginbotham, 54, of Far View Cottage - the highest house in the highest village in Britain.

The granddad-of-seven, who owns a Russian snow mobile for the harsh winters, said: " This is good news and gets one over on the Scots. They tried to take Robin Hood off us, but they're not having the highest village."

But all is not well over the border as the villagers of Wanlockhead are crying foul play in the BBC's programme making.

Manager of the Museum of Lead Mining, Maria Muir, said: "The general feeling is that the programme was very biased towards Flash. They interviewed 14 people from the village for the show and only showed one man and four sheep.

"We have higher points than where they measured, one is the old meeting point to play curling."

The sour grapes from the Scots have not deterred the party atmosphere in the village, especially after Carol Thatcher, former winner of 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here', was the BBC journalist who reported on Flash.

Landlady of the New Inn, Diane Phillips, said: "Loads of the villagers came in and watched the programme and since it's been on everyone's been talking about it."

There are no immediate plans to change either the Flash village sign to the new measurement nor the one at Wanlockhead.

Maria Muir said: "Our sign says 'The Highest Village in Scotland' and we are proud to be so."

n To watch the programme again log onto www.bbc.co.uk/theoneshow/article/2007/08/ab_highest.shtml.

n For further information on Wanlockhead log on to www.visitscotland.com or telephone 0845 2255121.