'The Christmas stamp encourages people to come in'

Reverend Dean Sue Jones said the stamp had created "a real buzz" at the Cathedral

The Dean of Liverpool Cathedral has said she feels "honoured" that the building was chosen as this year's first class Royal Mail Christmas stamp.

Liverpool Cathedral has been given a festive makeover in this year's special edition Christmas stamp collection.

It is one of five cathedrals to be featured, including Westminster, Angor, Edinburgh and Armagh.

The Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones said there was a "real buzz" around the place as the cathedral comes to the end of its centenary year.

'Magical'

It is 100 years since Liverpool Cathedral's consecration, when the building was originally set apart for prayer and worship.

Dean Sue Jones said: "It's been really positive.

"It was a real honour to hear from Royal Mail, that they wished us to be the first class stamp, and to see the first class stamp as well.

"They look really really good. I think it's a lovely, modern interpretation of the cathedral, with ice skaters in the front and around the side of the Cathedral."

She added: "I think what the stamp does, with the ice skaters out the front of the Cathedral, actually gives something of a magical Christmas time with children, and to come in and then see the cribs, and to experience the lighting of the tree, makes you think more about something beyond ourselves."

The illustration, created by British artist Judy Joel, will be displayed as an enlargement in the cathedral over the festive season.

Dr Jones said Liverpool Cathedral would be sending out its own Christmas cards this year with the stamp to "give thanks for this honour".

"One of the sad things now is that lots of people don't send Christmas cards in the post, they send electronic ones," she added.

The festive period is a busy time of year for the largest cathedral in Britain, with the return of the cathedral's annual lightshow, and Sunday carol services attracting up to 900 people at a time.