New stamps to show album covers

A dogs' home, the Girl Guides and album covers will all be featured on new stamps being released in 2010.

Legendary designs on albums including Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and Blur's classic Parklife will appear on stamps in January, followed by special stamps in February to mark the 100th anniversary of girl guiding.

Another anniversary will be celebrated in March - the 150th of Battersea Dogs Home in London.

Other stamps planned for later in the year will feature children's books, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, musicals and railways.

Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps at Royal Mail, said: "Royal Mail's special stamps are famous around the world for their ability to capture the richness and diversity of British heritage and culture.

"As different as they are distinctive, special stamps bring together famous people, great art, historic events and major anniversaries on millions of miniature canvasses every month."