How to get a free letter from Santa as Royal Mail scheme opens for 2020

Writing to Father Christmas is one festive tradition we can all get behind.

For children it makes the event that little bit more special - and parents get a handy list of what the kids are hankering after.

The better news is that Royal Mail has a free service where if you write to Santa, you even get a reply from the "North Pole" - and its Write to Santa scheme is now open.

"It's nearly Christmas, and we know you want to make sure that your letter to Santa Claus gets to him," Royal Mail explains on its Letters to Santa site.

"Please remember, as Santa says: get your letter posted by Friday 11 December."

The big man at the North Pole will write back if you give him enough time (Iconica)

To use the service, you need to get your little one to write a letter with their full name and address.

Drop the letter into an envelop with a stamp, and send to Santa's 'address' provided by Royal Mail.

Father Christmas advises children and their parents to:

• Write Santa's address carefully on the envelope
• Put a stamp on the envelope so it gets to me
• Include your full name and address in your letter

You get a letter back if you write fast enough (Getty Images Europe)

He'll even reply in Welsh if you prefer - although you need to write to a different address for that.

These are the addresses you need.

For an English reply:

Santa/Father Christmas,
Santa's Grotto,
Reindeerland,
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If you are writing in Welsh, send your stamped letter to:

Sion Corn,
Ogof Sion Corn,
Gwlad Y Ceirw,
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