TWENTY children from the College Fields Montessori Nursery School in Marlborough were invited along to the town's Royal Mail sorting office to see their letters to Father Christmas start their journey through the postal system.

The children asked if they could see the sorting office after they were told that was where their letters to Santa Claus, c/o The North Pole, would be sorted after they were posted in Marlborough.

Sorting office supervisor Pam Balcombe welcomed the nursery pupils and showed them where the mail is received and how the army of post men and women sort it for local delivery.

Celia Pye, who accompanied the children on their visit, said: "The staff at the sporting office were wonderful. They had very interesting explanations for everything they were doing and the children were fascinated."

The 20 children aged between three and four-and-a-half were shown videos of how the mail is sent around the world by air and road after its initial sorting.

Mrs Pye said: "The children were given a wonderful time and we would like to thank all the sorting office staff for their kindness."