Royal Mail unveils this year's Christmas stamps

  • Consumer
The full set of this year's stamps released by the Royal Mail. Credit: Royal Mail/PA Wire

Snowmen, carol singers and ice skating are among the traditional scenes featured on this year's Christmas stamps.

The Royal Mail has brought out five different designs for first and second class and airmail stamps that go on sale today.

The first class stamp features children posting cards, buying a Christmas tree is depicted on the second class, while the three airmail stamps show a snowman, carol singers and ice skaters.

One of the stamps shows a family posting their Christmas cards. Credit: Royal Mail/PA Wire

Royal Mail first produced special stamps for Christmas in 1966 when they ran a competition giving children the opportunity to design the stamps.

However, children have designed the Christmas special stamp only twice since then - in 1981 and 2013.

Carol singers also feature in this year's collection. Credit: Royal Mail/PA Wire

This year's stamps are the work of award-winning illustrator Andrew Bannecekr.

Most important of all - last posting dates for delivery within the UK this Christmas are December 18 for second class and two days later for first class.