Tredegar Paralympian launches Christmas stamps (From South Wales Argus)

Tredegar Paralympian Mark Colbourne launches Christmas stamps

3:30pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News

THIS year's Christmas stamps featuring festive robins, a reindeer, and Santa will go on sale next week.

The Royal Mail has released five stamps depicting traditional festive scenes and characters for customers which were launched by Gold Paralympian Mark Colbourne in Tredegar on Saturday.

The scenes in all the stamps were designed by children's illustrator Axel Scheffler, best known for The Gruffalo in collaboration with children's author and poet, Tony Mitton.

Mr Scheffler's drawings include a Father Christmas with a festive robin perching on his hand (1st Class), a reindeer with decorated antlers (2nd Class), the usual differences set aside as a cat and mouse decorate a Christmas Tree, a Robin atop a sprig of holly bearing a star decoration in his beak and a snowman meeting a penguin.

Andrew Hammond, Royal Mail Stamps spokesperson, said: "Christmas is always a stamp issue we look forward to. This year we were delighted with the work produced by Axel. His charming style set the perfect tone for the stamps."

The stamps will be on sale from November 6 at all Post Offices and online at www.royalmail.com/christmas