ORGANISERS of the Scouts Stamp and Deliver service are hoping for a bumper year in the wake of the postal strikes.

The annual scheme involves youngsters delivering Christmas cards to homes across Derby to raise cash for their Scout groups and a nominated charity.

Now in its 28th year, the service has so far raised £86,642 for local good causes, including last year's charity, the Derby branch of the National Autistic Society, which was given £3,800.

This year, 10% of the money raised will go to Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

The rest will be split between the 30 participating Scout groups, including Willington, Hilton, Belper and Mickleover.

Last year, 250,000 cards were delivered.

Organisers are hoping to top that total this Christmas, as more people become disillusioned with the Royal Mail after a series of postal strikes last month.

Royal Mail has assured customers that services will not be affected over the festive period, but Nigel Tattersall, co-ordinator of the Scouts Borrowash sorting centre, said he thought it could still have an impact.

He said: "We are hoping for a bumper year. Last year we were forced, because of the economic situation, to increase our prices and we were concerned about the effect it would have. But we did really well because the Post Office put their prices up too.

"And after the strikes, people are becoming a bit disillusioned with the Royal Mail."

The idea behind the scheme is simple, people who want to use the Scouts' service can buy special stamps from participating outlets across the city for 20p.

They then have to put their cards in one of 250 yellow boxes at outlets in Derby, before the letters are taken to one of the two sorting offices, in Allestree or Borrowash, from where they are collected and delivered by Scout groups.

The first collection is Friday, December 4, with the last collection at 3pm on Thursday, December 17.

Letters are delivered in Derby city and its suburbs. A full list of areas covered can be found on the service's website at www.stampanddeliver.com

Catherine Foster, fund-raiser for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, said: "The Stamp and Deliver concept is really innovative.

"I would like to thank the Scouts for choosing to support the air ambulance. Their support is appreciated and will help to keep us flying and saving lives this winter.

"When conditions are particularly treacherous rescue and road transport can be even more difficult making the presence of the air ambulance even more vital."