TWO Bolton posties helped launch Royal Mail's latest stamps featuring birds of prey.

Jade Parry and Bernard Dawson joined forces with Alfa the owl and Tilly the kestrel to show off enlargements of the new stamps, at Royal Mail's Bolton West Delivery Office, in Horwich.

Jade, aged 28, from Westhoughton, and Bernard, aged 46, from Bolton, have worked for the Royal Mail for the past 12 and eight years respectively.

The birds were brought on the flying visit by their handler, Joseph Currie.

The collection of ten 1st Class stamps is the third set of the animal series which was launched in 2001.

A presentation pack is available priced £3.05.