CUBS turned postmen and detectives when they carried out their annual free Christmas card delivery scheme for local elderly people in Harpenden at the weekend.

For the 27th year, nearly 70 cubs and their parents from each of the nine packs in the town, sorted and delivered more than 2,800 cards in Harpenden and Redbourn.

The cards are collected from two sources – either from the Cubs when they visit their elderly neighbours, friends and relatives to collect their cards or from those “posted” in boxes at Harpenden Seniors Club or residential homes in the town.

The cards are sorted into rounds for delivery on Saturday and delivered on Sunday when, later in the day, a group of detective Cubs get together to work out how to deliver those which are missing vital details such as the address of the recipients.

County commissioner Richard Harrington, who devised the scheme originally and has now spread it across the Cub packs in the town, said that this year the youngsters had managed to “solve” nearly every card with missing details using just the telephone book and cross-referencing with other cards.

He added: “I have had several emails since it finished with parents saying how much they and their kids enjoyed it and they have already put the date on next year’s calendar.”