Stamps inspired by Telford

The World of Invention set of six self-adhesive stamps, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Telford, shows how inventors and engineers have changed our lives through technology.

The stamps are illustrated by Guardian cartoonist Peter Till. They feature some of the UK's greatest scientific achievements including the train, the telephone, the television, the world wide web and the possibility of space travel.

Thomas Telford was one of the giants of civil engineering whose greatest work is said to be the Menai bridge.

His other projects included renovations of Shrewsbury Castle, the town's prison and St Mary Magdalene's Church in Bridgnorth.

As the Shropshire county surveyor, Telford was also responsible for bridges and in 1790 he designed a bridge carrying the London to Holyhead road over the River Severn at Montford. This was the first of some 40 bridges he built in Shropshire.

In his lifetime he built more than 1,000 miles of road and 1,200 bridges as well as canals, aqueducts and harbours.

Other stamps will mark the work of George Stephenson, Alexander Graham Bell, John Logie Baird and Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Royal Mail spokesman Mike Dalton said: "World of Invention brings together some of our greatest minds and their inventions. Their accomplishments will be seen on millions of letters thanks to another home-grown invention - stamps."

Picture: Bridgnorth postman Richard Speke by the Low Town Bridge, Bridgnorth, at the launch of the World of Invention stamps.

By Dani Webb