A NEW series of Christmas stamps have been launched locally by the Royal Mail featuring a pair of much loved TV characters.

Wallace and Gromit have chosen to star on this year’s festive stamps which are to go on sale from November 2.

The stamps were launched at the Wensleydale Creamery, near to Hawes, North Yorkshire, which makes Wallace’s favourite cheese Real Yorkshire Wensleydale.

The first class stamp shows Gromit posting Christmas cards while on the second class stamp the pair sing Christmas carols.

Amongst the other images are the pair decorating a Christmas tree and they are seen hauling a very large turkey around.

David Hartley, the Wensleydale Creamery’s managing director, said: "The detail on the stamps is amazing, I’m sure they’ll be very popular.

"As national treasures Wallace and Gromit are an ideal choice for this year’s Royal Mail festive stamps."

Philip Parker, Royal Mail Stamps spokesman, said: "I think it has resulted in one of the finest sets of Christmas stamps Royal Mail has ever produced.

"Nick Park and his team’s attention to detail is legendary, but their efforts to bring Christmas with Wallace and Gromit to life on stamps is truly extraordinary.

"Keen-eyed collectors armed with a magnifying glass will see that the envelope seen being posted on the 1st Class stamp features the actual 1st Class stamp."