A NEW Christmas postal service is expected to raise a tidy sum for local Scouts.

The Fordingbridge Scout post has so far handled more than 1,500 cards after joining up with the Salisbury District Scout post service.

Post boxes were sited in Harrisons, Tesco, Co-op, Fordingbridge Library, the Avonway centre and the New Forest District Council offices in Kings Yard.

Harrisons, Co-op and NFDC also sold stamps at 20p each.

Group Scout leader Tim Reed said: “We were overwhelmed by the support that we received and have handled in excess of 1,500 Christmas cards, the majority of which are being delivered by the Scouts and our supporters in the Fordingbridge area.

“The hope is to expand the service across the area in future years.”

The group ran a very successful Scout Christmas Post a few years ago but due to lack of postmen they had to stop doing it.

They decided to try again this year after joining forces with Salisbury District Scouts as a trial.

This year they have been delivering in the immediate Fordingbridge town area but hope to expand to the whole SP6 area.

And ultimately they would like to link up with all the local Scout groups in Ringwood, Poulner, Burley etc and “operate like a mini-Royal Mail”.

Tony Parker, assistant group Scout leader of 1st Fordingbridge Scouts, said: “We have to start somewhere so hopefully this scheme will grow and grow.

“Our HQ will need a new roof within the next three years so we are thinking of novel ways to raise funds.”