A memorial post box has been installed at a Worcestershire crematorium.

People will be able to send letters to lost loved ones thanks to the new post box at the Vale Crematorium, part of Westerleigh Group.

The move follows the success of a similar initiative at one of the crematorium’s sister sites, Gedling Crematorium, which was devised by nine-year-old Matilda Handy, daughter of the crematorium’s memorial advisor.

Leanne’s father died in 2003 and her mother in 2017.

She said: “It all came about because Matilda was always saying she wished we could send Mamma and Grandad birthday and Christmas cards for them to read.

“She was four when my mum died, and never met my dad.

“Now the post box is in place, I am so pleased that local people are using it, and taking some comfort from it, as another way of feeling connected to their loved ones.

“Matilda and I were even more delighted when we learned that Westerleigh Group was going to install similar boxes across all its crematoria so that people all over the country will be able to use them.

“The memorial post boxes are available for anyone to use, regardless of whether you have held a service for your loved one at any of our crematoria or not.”

Matilda’s idea saw her appear on the BBC One Show, on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and even receive an invite to Number 10 Downing Street for an International Women’s Day reception, where she was presented with a Point of Light award by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Catherine Linfield, site manager at the Vale Crematorium, said: “Having seen the response to the first memorial post box at Gedling Crematorium, I am pleased to have installed something similar here at The Vale, enabling our bereaved communities to have access to this wonderful asset too.

“Feedback has shown that the process of writing a letter, or perhaps a birthday card, to a lost loved one has already brought therapeutic comfort to many people.

“Now, the communities in and around our crematorium can do the same thing.

“No address or stamps are required on any of the letters or cards.

“This is just another way in which we can provide emotional support to local families and is part of the uniquely personal exceptional care that all Westerleigh Group’s crematoria are committed to deliver.”