FRANCIS Firebrace staged an aboriginal ceremony at Stonehenge to celebrate the linking of two world heritage sites.

The charismatic Australian storyteller visited Wiltshire's best-known landmark on Tuesday to launch a new series of postage stamps.

Royal Mail and Australia Post have teamed up to promote eight of the countries' world heritage sites in four pairs of stamps, which went on sale yesterday.

The first class pair links Stonehenge with the Wet Tropics of Queensland, which made Mr Firebrace an ideal choice for the photocall.

Royal Mail's head of special stamps Julietta Edgar said: "It's great to think that through these stamps we'll be sharing each other's unique heritage with millions of people as they are sent on letters, not just to people throughout the UK and Australia, but also across the world reminding everyone of the special relationship both countries enjoy."

Mr Firebrace is touring the UK with his tales of aboriginal culture and was watched by 60 schoolchildren as he performed the ceremony in the stone circle.

National Trust property manager for Stonehenge, Scott Green, said: "We are delighted that these stamps recognise the significance of world heritage sites and that Stonehenge has been selected as the iconic image for the new first class stamp.

"However, it isn't just at Stonehenge that the trust plays an important role in managing the world's heritage."

l Following hot on the heels of the special stamps is a new set of playing cards offering the chance to sample Stonehenge without leaving your armchair.

Producer Heritage Playing Cards say the cards are being launched in time to catch the Summer Solstice market.

A spokesman said: "Every card in this 54-card deck has a full colour photograph

capturing the atmosphere of this significant site, which becomes a focal point of celebration for pagans, druids, new age travellers and many more."