Elves sort letters to Santa at Royal Mail hub

At a Royal Mail sorting centre in Edinburgh, a team of elves is busy arranging tens of thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus from children across the United Kingdom. This effort is part of the long-running Santa Letters initiative, which has been delighting young writers for over six decades.

Children who send their Christmas wish lists by Wednesday, 10 December may receive a personal reply from Santa himself. For the first time, this year a British Sign Language (BSL) version of Santas response card will be available, making the magic of the season more inclusive.

Mark Dawson, a Royal Mail employee for more than ten years, has been donning his elf costume for the five years leading up to Christmas. He explains, "For around two months each year, we wear our elf hats and help Santa by collecting, opening, and preparing letters from children all over the country before sending them to the North Pole. Its all part of the Christmas magic."

Children are reminded to include their full name, address, and postcode on each letter and ensure it is properly stamped. Letters should be clearly marked to reach Santa Claus, so they can be delivered in time for the festive season.

Author: Grace Ellison