How do I solve messed up package version numbers?

["Oliver Elphick" <olly@lfix.co.uk>]

I made a silly mistake in the version numbers of postgresql.  The package in
woody is 7.0-0.beta3-1 instead of 7.0-0.beta3.1.  I've run some tests and find
that I seem to need an epoch to get out of this.  Furthermore, I think I
shall then be stuck with it for ever:

$ dpkg --compare-versions 7.0-0.beta5.2 gt 7.0-0.beta3-1 || echo bad 
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 7.0-1.beta5.2 gt 7.0-0.beta3-1 || echo bad
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 7.0-2.beta5.2 gt 7.0-0.beta3-1 || echo bad
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 7.0-2 gt 7.0-0.beta3-1 || echo bad
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 1:7.0-0.beta5.2 gt 7.0-0.beta3-1 || echo bad 
$ dpkg --compare-versions 7.1-1 gt 1:7.0-0.beta5.2  || echo bad
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 8.1-1 gt 1:7.0-0.beta5.2  || echo bad
bad
$ dpkg --compare-versions 1:7.1-1 gt 1:7.0-0.beta5.2  || echo bad

Is there any other way out of this hole?

-- 
Oliver Elphick                                Oliver.Elphick@lfix.co.uk
Isle of Wight                              http://www.lfix.co.uk/oliver
               PGP key from public servers; key ID 32B8FAA1
                 ========================================
     "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and  
      sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to  
      dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; and is a
      discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  
                              Hebrews 4:12