IF I remember correctly, in the late Forties the petrol pumps at Scobey's Garage, Bootham (April 10), were manually operated.

This was handy for filling up when there were frequent power cuts but it made 'pumping gas' in York something less than a glamorous occupation.

Annie Wright,

Aston Science Park,

Love Lane,

Birmingham.

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, April 25, 2001