Mandela writes prize letter

Nelson Mandela, the South African president, has written a letter to British children which will be offered as a prize in a letter writing competition organised by the Royal Mail, writes Meg Carter.

In his letter, Mr Mandela explains what letters meant to him while he was in prison. "It would be difficult for me to imagine a world without letters. I am sure you have all experienced the joy of receiving a letter and eagerly tearing it open or turning the letter over and over, studying the writing on the envelope, wondering who it is from and speculating as to its content," he writes.