ROYAL Mail officials are urging local youngsters not to take notice of a new plague of chain letters circulating in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Young people who receive letters are asked to make six copies and send them to friends and relatives

They are told they are taking part in creating the "world's longest chain letter." It is claimed it was started in 1996 and should it continue unbroken into the autumn of this year then it would be entered in the Guinness Book of Records along with the names of everyone involved.

They are also told no stamp is needed and that the Post Office keep track of the letters.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said chain letters were a constant menace, especially those which said that no stamp was needed on the envelope or card.

"We would like to stop them but we have no means of doing so. Occasionally the content of the letters can be worrying for some people and in those cases they can be returned to us to be destroyed."

A local parent had to pay the postman when an unstamped letter arrived for her daughter.

"It is unfortunate when these things happen and youngsters are naturally reluctant to be the ones to break the chain.

" But it can be very worrying and should be stopped," she said.