SCOUTS from across the Dorchester area will be taking to the streets over the next few days to deliver thousands of Christmas cards.

Christmas Scout Post 2000 gets under way on Sunday and during the following two weeks organisers hope to deliver in excess of 40,000 cards to homes across the area.

Last year's Scout post session was declared the best yet with around 40 adult volunteers delivering Christmas mail to homes in the county town as well as ones in the surrounding villages.

As well as giving people an inexpensive way of delivering seasonal greetings the scheme raised more than £6,000, which was split between the Scouts and other local good causes.

Pam Marsh, assistant district commissioner for Dorchester District Scouts said that they hoped to top that total through this year's collection.

She said: "Christmas is around the corner and true to our motto - be prepared - scouters and friends are preparing for the 13th year of Christmas Scout Post.

"More than 12,000 leaflets are currently being delivered to homes in Dorchester and participating villages and we are hoping that as many people as possible will support us and other local causes by using us."

Scout Post, which operates with the permission of the head postmaster, begins on Sunday with the last collection at 4pm on Monday, December 18 and costs just 10p per item.

Deliveries and collections will be made from Dorchester town, Charminster, Stratton, Bradford Peverell, Crossways, Moreton, Owermoigne, Warmwell, Tincleton, Woodsford, Broadmayne West Knighton, West Stafford, Puddletown, Tolpuddle, Martinstown, Winterbourne Abbas and Winterbourne Steepleton.