ROYAL Mail has launched a n-ice series of stamps to make sure customers have Christmas licked this year.

But the latest stamps, featuring impressive ice sculptures, do not need licking as the six superb designs are self-adhesive.

The Shuttle/Times and News has joined forces with Royal Mail to give away 20 first-day cover sets to commemorate this issue.

The stamps, which went on sale at the beginning of November, feature works of art by artist and sculptor Andy Goldsworthy.

A star, created out of giant icicles is the centrepiece of the first class stamp.

The piece was made at Scaur Water, Dumfriesshire, by the sculptor who is renowned for his artworks from nature.

He dipped the thick ends of icicles in snow then water and held them until they froze together, breathing on the sticks to release them.

The icicle spiral for the second class stamp was also made in Dumfriesshire, at the Glen Marlin Falls, from reconstructed icicles.

Goldsworthy travelled to Japan to create the wall of ice blocks which are featured on the European class stamp and, then, it was back to Scotland again for the intriguing ice ball (53p stamp).

To make this, Goldsworthy found pools of water that had iced over with sheets of different thicknesses.

These sheets were broken up and then the pieces were "welded" together with water from dripping ice to form the hollow ball.

Standing eerily inside the Arctic Circle are the four pyramids or spires, which Goldsworthy moulded from snow at Grise Fjord, Ellesmere Island, for the £1.12 stamp.

To enter our special competition to win a first-day cover set, answer this simple question: Which sculptor created the works of art on the stamps?

The closing date is Friday, November 28.

Normal Newsquest rules apply.