ONE of Dorset's most romantic landmarks is also one of its unlikeliest.

Few could say posting a letter is anything other than a chore.

But the Royal Mail has turned an errand into an enchantment in Higher Bockhampton, West Dorset.

A quote by novelist Thomas Hardy, who was born in the village, has been painted onto a letterbox.

The words, which can be found in Far From the Madding Crowd, read: "Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness."

The postbox is one of just four across the country to be decorated ahead of Valentine's Day. Three have been painted with quotes from the works of poets John Keats and Anna Seward and bard Robert Burns.

Mark Street, from the Royal Mail, said: "As one of the guardians of the written word, we relish the opportunity to celebrate the life and times of some of Britain's most treasured writers.

"With such a rich history of producing some of the most famous romantic works of all time, it seems only fitting that their work is honoured on some of our iconic postboxes."

The other three postboxes are in London, Lichfield and Ayr – places associated with the writers.