MILITARY postman Ian Nottingham is in training to make special deliveries that will take him as far afield as Poland and Cyprus.

This summer, Private Nottingham and his part-time postal and courier regiment will be working harder than ever to make sure the mail gets through. As well carrying vital orders for British forces across the world, he will also be making sure that millions of blue lightweight letters, or "blueys", reach friends and loved ones abroad.

Pte Nottingham, 27, from Harrogate, said: "E-mail might be instantaneous, but it can never replace the bluey.

"British commanders fighting wars overseas have seen their armies' morale rise up and fall with the weight of letters from home. There is nothing on earth so personal or comforting as a letter from a loved one that you can read again and again."

This year, teams of Territorials are due to travel to Poland, Belgium, Germany and Cyprus, and will take the place of regular Army troops while they are on training exercises