EAST Lancashire MP Nigel Evans today launched a campaign to get the Royal Mail to put their own seasonal stamp on Christmas with a special cut-price card postage rate.

He wants the organisation, under fire for sharply hiking prices last month, to make a festive gift to customers by cutting the cost of sending Christmas cards to 30p for 17 days in December.

The Ribble Valley Tory is writing to Royal Mail Group Chief Executive Moya Greene asking her to create the special stamp to preserve more than a 100 years of tradition and help families keep in touch with distant relatives and friends over the festive season.

He made the move after the price of second class post rose from 36 pence to 50 and first class from 46 pence to 60 from April 30 caused a massive row.

Deputy Speaker Mr Evans said: “I am launching a campaign today for a special 30p Christmas card stamp to be introduced from December 1 to December 17 so people can still send cards to their friends and loved ones.

“Since the cost of a second class stamp rose to 50 pence last month, this is particularly important if we want to keep the tradition of sending Christmas cards alive.

“Many people will start sending E-cards by email instead — or just give up altogether unless something is done to cut the price to something affordable.

“This is particularly so for people in rural areas like the Ribble Valley and pensioners on tight budgets in my constituency.

“The inbox is not the same as the letter box. It will keep a crucial part of a Christmas celebrations alive and help families and friends to keep in touch.”