The Family Library in Douglas is holding a new event where children can design their own postcard and then send it for free on Saturday.

The library said the event, held from 10.30am to 4pm in collaboration with the Post Office, was inspired by the recent lockdown - saying that it was ’all too aware of how isolated people can feel at the moment’.

The statement continued: ’To encourage children to learn a new skill and bridge the gaps we all currently feel between family and friends, we are very grateful to have the Post Office’s support for this fun activity day at the Family Library.

’All are welcome - the postcards could be written to celebrate a birthday, to greet family abroad that we have not been able to meet face-to-face or to distant friends, to let them know we are thinking of them.

’Some say that letter writing is becoming a lost form of communication, but the Family Library is determined to breathe new life into the old craft and get children excited to send messages that can be kept forever.’

All materials will be provided (including postage), all that children are being asked to bring along are their ’creative hats’ and the address of the person they are writing to.

The Family Library is located at Noble’s Hall on Westmoreland Road in Douglas.

l The library has also been posting children’s book reading videos to its Facebook and YouTube channel, for the ongoing National Storytelling Week.