The bright red post box has been placed in The Square at Father Christmas’ request by Shrewsbury BID and letter templates are now available from businesses around the town and Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, or can be downloaded by visiting the Original Shrewsbury website at www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk. 

Letter templates can be picked up for free from local businesses or the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Parents are invited to include an email address so that children can receive a reply from Father Christmas himself. 

It’s all part of a Christmas campaign designed to help get people into the festive spirit with the big day getting closer. 

Other things to look out for are a special promotional video featuring a girl moving to Shrewsbury and discovering the town through a magical drummer boy, and a programme of live music across the town in the run-up to Christmas. 

Late-night shopping Wednesdays started on November 24, when free parking will be available in Frankwell and Abbey Foregate car parks. Those car parks are also free on Sundays. 

Emma Molyneux, of Shrewsbury BID, said the campaign was aimed at making the town centre feel fun and welcoming, as well as being safe, for people to do their Christmas shopping. 

“It’s an exciting time of year and this Christmas promises to be so much different from last year with the town centre open again after the restrictions of Covid,” she said. 

“We are anticipating good numbers of people coming into the town to do their shopping or just to come and have a look around and soak up the incredible atmosphere. 

“The promotional video premiered at the launch of late-night shopping Wednesdays, and forms the centrepiece of our Christmas campaign. 

“We are once again holding our Christmas Window competition in association with Shrewsbury Business Chamber - entries for that close on December 9, and we have distributed festive wrapping paper to businesses in the town centre to wrap gifts for customers or hand out to shoppers. 

“Our Letters to Father Christmas post box was in much demand last year, and we are looking forward to children taking advantage of the special service again this year. 

“The specially-designed templates for letters can be collected from local businesses, the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery or downloaded from the Original Shrewsbury website, children are also welcome to write their own letters without a template.

"If you would like a response to your letters please make sure to post them before Thursday 16th December, and remember to include an email address so Father Christmas can reply!”