ALCESTER Town Councillor and Chairman of Stratford District Council Mike Gittus delivered some festive thanks to staff at the Royal Mail sorting office in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Cllr Gittus, a former postie, showed his appreciation to workers by handing out mince pies.

"The men and women here continue to do a remarkable job delivering post of all sizes to all destinations in all weather conditions," he said.

"Standing in this sorting office at Christmas takes me back 45 years when as a young man I worked as a Christmas postie."

"The smell of paper and the hustle and bustle haven't changed much, it was always a happy place to be during the lead up to Christmas."

The 88 staff and 60 deliverers will process 1,350,000 items of mail over the Christmas period.