You can take the millennium and stick it - on a letter or a parcel, or just in your stamp album.

Thousands of philatelists will be rushing to buy the latest work from Dedham artist Allan Drummond.

The art teacher, illustrator and writer will see his design to mark 2000 drop on to doormats across Britain and the world when it is launched in July.

Allan was asked to join 47 artists in designing the Royal Mail's Millennium collection. He said: "I was commissioned to design the stamp in September and I have done quite a bit of work for the Royal Mail before.

"This really is an honour and it is a rare opportunity to create truly public art."

Allan writes and illustrates his own children's books, and has also designed murals for Holborn station on the London Underground.

His stamp - entitled the Right to Learn - illustrates the changes in education for children and is based on the work of 19th Century social reformer Robert Owen.

Allan said: "He owned a woollen mill town in Scotland and gave the children of the town the world's first ever nursery school."

His work will grace the 26p first class stamp in July - but the Royal Mail is keeping Allan's design a closely guarded secret until then.

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