'Letters to heaven' postbox placed at cemetery

People are now able to post their letters to heaven at Church Gresley Cemetery

A "letters to heaven" postbox has been installed at a church cemetery in Derbyshire.

The white postbox was installed at Church Gresley Cemetery to encourage people to write letters and cards to people they have lost.

South Derbyshire District Council said the letters would not be opened and would eventually be used to create compost for the cemetery grounds to symbolise the "ongoing cycle of life and remembrance".

After installing the postbox, Sean Bambrick, chairman of the council, said: "This is a great initiative, and I hope it will help people affected by grief."

A memorial stone was placed alongside the postbox

The idea for the postboxes originally came from a nine-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire who told her mum she wanted to write to her late grandparents.

Similar schemes have been set up elsewhere in the UK, including a postbox that was installed at Nottingham Road Cemetery in Derby.

A memorial stone was also placed to the side of the postbox by Art Stone Memorials Ltd, which added a "poignant touch" to the project's installation, the council said.