Royal Mail reveals its 2016 Christmas stamps
It's that time of year again, when the Royal Mail issues a set of festive stamps to brighten up the envelopes containing your Christmas cards.
This year the six stamps celebrate some of the best-loved traditions of a UK Christmas.
They include decorating the tree, making a snowman, eating a Christmas pudding, hanging out a stocking, and lighting a Christmas lantern.
Also included is a robin redbreast - a long-held tradition, originally inspired by the red coats worn by postmen in Victorian times when postmen were known as ‘red breasts’
The images on the stamps were crafted by Manchester-based illustrator Helen Musselwhite.
She created intricate paper sculptures which were then photographed. She cut the paper by hand and folded the pieces to build the detailed and multi-layered festive scenes.
Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps feature secular and religious imagery in alternate years - Madonna and Child 1st and 2nd Class stamps are available from Post Offices.
The festive stamps are on sale now.