IN answer to J Bonarius's question of why the number four on clock dials is depicted as IIII (as on the Little Admiral clock in Coney Street, right) is that it balances visually with VIII (Letters, December 14).

However, there are a few dials which do have IV. Perhaps the most famous is the Great Clock of Westminster, better known as Big Ben (left).

Keith Scobie-Youngs,

Cumbria Clock Company,

Dacre, Penrith.

Updated: 11:18 Tuesday, December 21, 2004