TWO schoolgirls who have designed this year's Christmas stamps will see their names below the Queen's head on every one. And their success will be noted in a special postmark on all mail delivered from 5 November.

On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales presented vouchers worth £1000 to Molly Robson, aged seven, from Horsham, West Sussex, whose portrait of Father Christmas is on the first-class stamp; and to Rosie Hargreaves, aged ten, from Ivybridge, Devon, whose choir of angels features on the second-class stamp.

The winning designs were chosen from more than 240,000 entries from children aged between four and 11, who were asked: "What does the Christmas season mean to you?" It is only the third time in the Royal Mail's history that children have designed the Christmas issues.

The stamps go on sale on 5 November. The unique postmark will read: "Molly Robson/Rosie Hargreaves - Winner of Royal Mail's Christmas Stamp Design Competition".

Molly, a pupil at Leechpool Primary School, and Rosie, from Ermington Primary School, were also given £1000 for their schools. In addition, the Prince gave them framed images of their designs.

The chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, said: "These wonderful images capture perfectly what Christmas means to many people throughout the UK. We were overwhelmed that the competition received more than 240,000 entries, and Molly and Rosie now follow in the footsteps of some highly acclaimed children's designers and illustrators who have designed Royal Mail's Christmas stamps in the past."