These include the team at the Royal Mail Delivery Office.

I arrived at 8am last Friday, by which time the total number of items they'd dealt with overnight had reached 190,000: it's a hugely impressive operation.

Many thanks to Delivery Office Manager John Beard, who showed me around and introduced me to some of the incredibly hard-working postmen and women.

I was particularly pleased to meet Rodney Burlton, pictured with me above, for whom this is his 40th Christmas working with Royal Mail.

Congratulations to Rodney on his long service; and many best wishes to all the team for a good rest when they finally finish for Christmas.

Image: Rodney Burlton with Caroline