Here is another possibility...

=LEFT(A1,MIN(FIND({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},A1&"012345 6789"))-1)

Rick


"chriso" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have a data sheet and need to get just the area from a post code e.g BS1
1JN I need just the BS in a column. I would use left,2 etc but problem is
some codes such as Birmingham only have 1 letter.

Any ideas please.
Thanks
Chris