PUPILS at a Neilston primary school can be assured their Christmas letters will get safely to Santa this year, thanks to the intervention of their local postie.

Stephen Pritt, 34, has been a postman for the last eight years, based at Barrhead Post Office and delivering parcels and letters around Neilston.

Last week, he paid a visit to St Thomas’ Primary School with a very special delivery – a postbox that only accepts letters to Santa Claus and guarantees every child a personal response.

Mr Pritt, whose daughter Lara is a primary one pupil at the school, stopped by on Friday to tell the youngsters all about the special service.

Principal teacher Eilidh Conlon said: “Stephen told all the kids he reported to work one morning and found the postbox waiting for him in the depot.

“He read the label and discovered it had been left there by Santa’s elves for the pupils of St Thomas’ Primary, and that every pupil who posted their letter into it would get a letter from Santa in return.

“The kids are all really excited about it and it’s helped motivate some of the younger ones to begin writing for enjoyment a bit more, which is a bonus for us teachers.

“I saw a couple of the letters and they were very long – quite a lot of presents listed – and quite well written.

“And because the kids know they’re going to get a reply from Santa, there’s a nice buzz about the school.”

Rumours circulated this week that the magical postbox was, in fact, built by Mr Pritt himself, who had also set himself the task of ensuring all 142 children receive a reply to their letters.

However, the Barrhead News was assured this was baseless speculation.