THE birthplace of the Bronte sisters is welcoming the 200th anniversary of Emily Bronte’s birth with a special themed postbox.

The anniversary of the Wuthering Heights author will be held next week, and today Lord Mayor of Bradford Zafar Ali helped Royal Mail unveiled the postbox adorned with quotes from her most famous works.

The postbox is on Market Street in Thornton, a short distance from the house Emily and her siblings were born in. It will be in place for a month, and will be in full working order for that time.

Rebecca Yorke, Head of Communications at The Bronte Society said: “It’s perfect that Royal Mail has chosen to commemorate the bicentenary of Emily Brontë in this way. Correspondence played an important part in the lives of the Emily and her sisters. Their letters have made a significant contribution to what we know about them. Emily spent most of her life at the Parsonage in Haworth, but we’re delighted that Thornton, where Emily was born, is also taking part in the bicentenary celebrations. We hope residents and visitors alike will enjoy the commemorative postbox.”

Mark Street, Head of Campaigns at Royal Mail said: “As one of the guardians of the written word, we relish the opportunity to celebrate the life and times of Britain’s most treasured writers. The incredible impact that Emily Brontë’s work has had on our culture is undeniable, and we are delighted to honour her work in this way.”