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Ivor the Engine's 50th birthday is being celebrated in 2009 with a new sheet of collectable Royal Mail stamps.

The stamps are raising funds for Ivor's favourite charity, SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad). It supports people in developing countries by helping them look after their working animals.

Fans of Ivor will remember Bluebell the Donkey who ambles in the Welsh fields (and features on the stamp sheet design) but Simon Pope, Communications Director at SPANA, is keen to point out that not all donkeys have it so easy.

"In many countries, working animals can suffer terrible cruelty, not because their owners don't care but because they don't know any better. And yet, without their animals, families could starve," he explains, "The funds raised by Ivor the Engine and this collectable stamp sheet will go towards veterinary treatment for working animals overseas and will fund education projects to teach better animal care".

The collectable stamp sheet features the artwork of Peter Firmin, one half of the team who created Ivor the Engine, The Clangers and Bagpuss. Mr Firmin is personally signing a limited number to raise even more funds for SPANA.

"These will be collector’s items of the future", explains award winning stamp designer, Cath Buckingham, known internationally for her philatelic designs, "We’ve been planning this project since last year but it's more poignant since Oliver Postgate sadly passed away in December. We hope it will be a fitting tribute to him."

Only 1000 stamp sheets are being issued. Each comes as a presentation pack with information card and can also be mounted ready to frame. At least £2 from every sale goes directly to SPANA.

Cath adds, "So often we have to choose between supporting charities for animals or for people. It is lovely to be able to support a charity which helps both".

For more information and ordering details, please click here