The animated characters going about their festive duties are featured on seven different stamps but those wanting a religious theme have only one choice, the image of the Madonna and Child that has been on sale for the past three years. Last year, Royal Mail offered five religious designs, based on nativity scenes from stained-glass windows of different churches.

"I like Wallace and Gromit, it's good entertainment, but let's have a balance," said the Rev Hugh Hoskins, team rector for St Mary's Church in Upavon, Wiltshire.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman answered, "We have distributed tens of millions of the Madonna and Child stamps to go on sale alongside the Wallace and Gromit stamps."