Hard-working parents and friends of Otley Parish Scout and Guide group are putting their feet up after delivering a record 11,792 Christmas cards across the town.

They pounded the pavements with the biggest postbag ever.

And by charging 10p a time, they raised enough money to keep the scout and guide headquarters up and running for another year.

Richard Bleasdale, of the scout and guide parents' committee, said: "We would like to thank everyone who used the post, all the shopkeepers and places that had postboxes, and of course those parents and people who helped us to deliver the mail." But Mr Bleasdale said that despite appeals for people only to send cards within Otley, and not outlying areas, a couple had been received for places such as Pool -and even Texas.

"We did take care of them but if the people who sent the card to Texas, and there was one for Paris as well, would like to contact me, I will tell them what we did with them," he said.

"We're not that worldwide - yet. We're not quite prepared to take on the post office but you never know, the way we're going." Mr Bleasdale can be contacted on (01943) 461603.

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