Halifax Courier

A ‘n-ice’ way for children to send letters to Santa

- Sta ff Reporter

CHILDREN IN Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroy­d have had a magical Christmas experience – posting their lists to Santa into a postbox made entirely out of ice.

Two elves have been taking the special ice letterbox to schools in the area so children would not miss out on seeing the stunning ice sculpture.

The idea was dreamed up by the Sand in Your Eye arts organisati­on and designed to bring a little Christmas cheer during this difficult period.

The project was funded by Hebden Royd Town Council and every child will receive a response from Santa and a book as a gift.

Gina Blagbrough, principal at Scout Road Academy in Mytholmroy­d, said: “Children have had to cope with a lot this year and staff wanted to reward their resilience by helping them enjoy a great Christmas.

“The children will have so much fun posting their letters to Santa in this incredible ice post-box. Their smiling faces say it all.”

During lockdown artists have been busy working behind the scenes developing Covid-19 policies and risk assessment­s to allow them to continue to show their public art.

It means events have been adapted so that they can be conducted safely in the current climate and in line with Government guidelines of social distancing and hygiene.

Artists learned the art of ice sculpture from working at the Ice Hotel in Lapland, and the inspiratio­n of work in the place where Santa lives was evident in their latest offering.

The ice letterbox was swiftly moved from school to school, with the children being able to see their letters as they were posted through the ice.

A spokesman for Sand in Your Eye said: “We use our skills and expertise as profession­al ice sculptors to bring Christmas stories to life and demonstrat­e the versatilit­y of chainsaws and chisels.”

FOLLOW US: Online, on Facebook or Twitter @HxCourier

 ??  ?? SPECIAL TREAT: Jamie Wardley dressed as an elf assists his daughter Florence to post a letter.
SPECIAL TREAT: Jamie Wardley dressed as an elf assists his daughter Florence to post a letter.
 ??  ?? ICE-TASTIC: Richard Spence finishing off the ice postbox sculpture
ICE-TASTIC: Richard Spence finishing off the ice postbox sculpture
 ??  ?? GOT MAIL: Florence Wardley posts a letter to Santa
GOT MAIL: Florence Wardley posts a letter to Santa

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom