Postal restrictions mean end to Santa response

Thousands of children around the world are set to be disappointed this Christmas if they write to the jolly man at the North Pole and expect a reply.

The US Postal Service is dropping a popular effort begun in 1954 in the small town of North Pole, Alaska, where volunteers tackle up to 150,000 letters addressed to Santa.

Officials say privacy concerns loomed last winter when a postal worker in the US state of Maryland recognised a volunteer in the agency’s Operation Santa program as a registered sex offender. The postal worker interceded before the individual could answer a child’s letter.

The service now prohibits volunteers in such programs to have access to children’s last names and addresses.

Spokeswoman Pamela Moody said dealing with the tighter restrictions was now not feasible in Alaska.