Winnie the Pooh stamps issued by Royal Mail

Children from Surrey show off the EH Shepard illustrations

Black-and-white illustrations from the Winnie the Pooh books are featured on a new set of stamps.

The 10 commemorative stamps show the honey-loving bear, Christopher Robin, Eeyore and other AA Milne creations.

All the drawings in the popular series of children's books were drawn by artist EH Shepard, who lived for 51 years in Shamley Green, near Guildford.

Milne wrote the books while living in Ashdown Forest, near Hartfield in East Sussex.

More than 35,000 people a year visit the forest's wooden Pooh Bridge, which was the venue for the "Poohsticks" game in Milne's stories.

Political cartoonist

Melanie Corfield, of the Royal Mail, said: "We know that Winnie the Pooh is a stamp issue that will rekindle many fond memories for people of all ages.

"We are delighted that we could use EH Shepard's original illustrations to bring Pooh and his friends to life on millions of stamps."

Shepard was one of Punch magazine's leading political cartoonists from 1921 until 1953.

In 1972, he gave his personal collection of papers, including diaries and illustrations, to the University of Surrey.

He died four years later, aged 96, at Midhurst in East Sussex.