FROGS, beetles, fish and dragonflies can be found in ponds across the country - and soon people will find them on their mail through a new set of stamps.

The stamps feature pondlife and aim to celebrate Britain's fascination with ponds and their environmental importance.

Royal Mail decided to launch the stamp yesterday at the Washington and Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Wearside, which is home to all the pondlife shown on the new stamps. They include the common frog, great diving beetle, stickleback and dragonfly.

Children from St Michael's Primary School, Sunderland, who were visiting the centre to take part in pond dipping activities, were on hand to unveil giant versions of the stamps.

The launch was supported by Ponds for People, a community project which began in the North-East last year and which aims to restore and create at least 1,000 ponds.

Hugh Roberts, Northern manager for Ponds for People, said: "Three quarters of Britain's ponds have been lost over the last century. Yet ponds are crammed with wildlife - far richer in wildlife than a healthy river.