Mothers are the latest group to be recognised and celebrate with specially decorated Royal Mail post boxes.

Three of the four boxes are for letters and cards with the fourth a newish style parcel box. There is one in each of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

The plum colour boxes are in Inverness, Lisburn, Ponypridd and Liverpool. Each design carries a few words from a local Royal Mail employee and an image of the employee’s mother.

The boxes are digitally activated: that is, customers can scan a QR code contained within the design on their mobile phones and watch a short film featuring the employees talking about their mums.

One of the videos features Emma Cullingford, from West Sussex, speaking about her mother who went missing in 2013. At the time, Emma was supported by Royal Mail charity partner Missing People, who provide support for the 176,000 people who go missing each year, and for their family and friends.

Royal Mail’s charity partner, Missing People, is the only charity in the UK which is dedicated to bringing the children and adults that go missing every year back together with their families. You can find out more about Missing People at https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail said: “This year more than ever, it is important to let loved ones know that they are in your thoughts. Mother’s Day is set to be a little different than usual this year, and as so many prepare to spend the day away from their loved ones, sending a letter, card or parcel through the post is the perfect way to remind your mum – wherever she may be – just how much you love her and how much she really means to you.”

The post boxes are in:

• Inverness – Castle Wynd, Inverness, IV2 3BJ
• Lisburn – Market Square, Lisburn BT28 1XY
• Pontypridd – 1 Market St, Pontypridd CF37
• Liverpool – 6 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DS