For three years householders in Great Knowley have been allocated the Blackburn directory, despite being in Chorley.

John Harrison, 61, of Epsom Close said: "It is an utterly ludicrous as I live in Chorley, my friends live in Chorley and I want to contact businesses in Chorley, but I can't do that with a Blackburn directory.

"It is not as if people in Great Knowley have a dialling code for Blackburn or we have a BB postcode, we are still in Chorley.

"I have complained to BT and they have been unhelpful. I offered to exchange the unopened directory for a Chorley and Preston one and they have refused."

After repeated conversations with BT, Mr Harrison has been told he will have to pay for the Preston and Chorley directory.

He said: "The Blackburn directory is as useful to me as having one for the Outer Hebrides. I suppose it could be used to prop up something.

"I suspect they have taken the boundary as the M61 but it seems to be an administrative convenience to divide Chorley in half."

Residents on Blackburn Road have approached local councillors to find a solution.

Coun Adrian Lowe, for Chorley North East, said: "It seems farcical that BT should look to the boundaries and link Great Knowley and Blackburn Road residents to Blackburn.

"They even have a Chorley telephone code, so I don't see the justification in giving local people a Blackburn telephone book and then having to pay a charge for a Chorley one."

A spokesman for BT said: "Decisions taken as to where edition boundaries fall are based on a full range of criteria, including history, postcode sector boundaries, shopping patterns and consultation with local authorities.

"Comments will be passed to our marketing team for inclusion in any future reviews.

"There will always be people who live close to boundaries and those who feel strongly can ring us on 0800 833400 to request one, subject to availability.

"There is normally a charge of £10 for this service."