The debate over whether Kingston is part of Surrey or London took a new twist this week with Kingston Council refusing to drop Surrey from its postal address unless ordered to do so by the Royal Mail.

Last week a council spokesman made very clear that it viewed Kingston as part of London. This followed the discovery that the Royal Mail had dropped Surrey from Kingston's official postcode as long as three decades ago.

But, asked this week, whether the council would now be amending all its letters, literature and website to reflect this, a council spokesman said it would not - unless it received a direct order from the Royal Mail.

She said: "Our main priority has been the inclusion of the postcode, as advised by Royal Mail, which will continue.

"There are no moves to abolish Kingston, Surrey, from the council's website or elsewhere."

Kingston has been a London borough since 1965, but council tax bills still appear with Surrey in the address.

Local historians have joined the debate.

Mike Page of the Surrey History Centre said Southwark was also part of Surrey until 1889, but no one would dream of saying Southwark, Surrey, now. He said: "Maybe in years to come, people will no longer say Kingston, Surrey, but these habits take a while to change."

But he pointed out that the website of the Association of British Counties, abcounties.co.uk, which is "dedicated to promoting awareness of the continuing importance of the 86 historic counties of Great Britain," states: "The Government has always maintained that local government changes do not actually directly affect the counties themselves."

Mark Davison, author of books Hook Remembered and Surbiton Memories, said: "Historically most people in the Kingston area will always feel a strong attachment to Surrey and therefore regard themselves as in the county.

"Try telling anyone strolling along the unspoilt countryside at Malden Rushett near Chessington that they are in London. You would be ridiculed.

"Likewise, the regional area name Middlesex should continue to live on. It isn't right to say Staines and Sunbury are in Surrey, though they come under Surrey County Council.

"Most people still put Middlesex on addresses in Hampton and Teddington, which come under Richmond, and Shepperton, which comes under Surrey."

He said people should include districts such as Hook and Tolworth in their postal addresses, otherwise years of history would be wiped out.