AS the movement of Christmas mail approaches its zenith, Gwent scouts and guides are getting it sorted.

By Tuesday, which is the last day of the Newport Scout and Guide Christmas Post, some 400,000 items will have been handled and £30,000 raised for Scout funds.

"In the 14 years we've been running the Scout Post in the Newport area it has grown into a major operation," said Clive Berry, of Forge Lane, Newport, a former group leader of the 24th Newport Group, and now an active member of the Scout Fellowship.

"All 17 local scout groups, assisted by guide groups, are each allocated one of 24 collection areas.

"For 13 pence a stamp, people can have their cards delivered promptly anywhere in the area, with shops, local businesses and even pubs being used as collection points.

"The mail is then taken to the Skip Jennings Hall, in Tregare Street, Newport, for sorting, and back out for delivery.

"Nine pence out of the 13 pence goes to the group doing the collecting, and the rest goes to the Scout District. The scheme covers an area extending from Pontywaun, in the north, down to Llandevaud and Goldcliff."

Mr Berry and the late John Phillips, formerly of the 16th Newport Scouts, founded the Christmas collection in 1990 after seeing how colleagues in Cardiff organised things.

Mary Periam, of Margaret Avenue, Newport, is chairman of the biggest Scout Fellowship in Wales.

"The Christmas delivery is run by the Scout Fellowship, which is comprised of people largely from those who have retired from active Scouting at the age of 65," she said.

"There is a tremendous atmosphere at the hall while sorting is going on, but the jollity is deceptive. It is a very slick and efficient operation."

'Mac' Pearce of Caerleon, one of the 40-plus volunteer sorters, said: "The Christmas post makes a lot of money for Scouting in Gwent. Some groups would be struggling without the money from Christmas deliveries.

"As a fundraising venture it beats the heck out of jumble sales."

* Tuesday, December 9, is the last day for posting. Users are asked to ensure that deliveries are within the area covered by the scheme.