INSURANCE company Howden has officially opened its North Pole mail service.

Families can visit their local branch to collect a specially designed postcard to write to Santa, share their Christmas present wishes, and then post it in the ‘North Pole mailbox’.

This includes the Howden Bournemouth, Parkstone and Poole branches.

Alec Alexander, divisional director, said: “We’re making it easier than ever for your little ones to share their wishes with Santa, so that he knows exactly what they’re hoping for this year.

"And to make the experience even more magical, they can also get a personalised response back from Father Christmas himself.

“Our aim is to not just help children connect with Santa, but also help parents create those magical moments that make Christmas so special.

"We know how busy the festive season can get, so our Santa letter service is designed to take some of the pressure off, giving families a chance to focus on making cherished memories together.”

Howden’s letters to Santa are completely free to take part in.