POST Office staff were overwhelmed by Princess Diana fans queuing to buy stamps commemorating her life.

A special counter was opened at the branch in St Aldate's, Oxford, to cope with the demand for souvenir packs which went on sale yesterday.

The five different Royal Mail stamps show portraits of Diana taken by photographers Lord Snowdon, Tim Graham and Terence Donovan.

Branch manager Paul Amos said he expected thousands of the souvenir packs to be sold by the end of the month.

He added: "We set up a special counter to sell the stamps because we knew they would be extremely popular."

Muriel Gallacher, 63, of Pike Terrace, Oxford, bought two £1.55 first-day covers for her grandchildren.

She said: "These are lovely souvenirs. Diana was a very special person and I respected her because of the way she dealt with problems she faced in her life."

Tourist Yuko Yoshikawa, 22, of Tokyo, Japan, who bought a £1.65 presentation pack, said: "I bought the stamps because I admire Princess Diana for what she achieved.

"She changed the way the Royal Family was perceived across the world and tried to do work for charity, including Aids sufferers."

Helen Hamilton, of Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford, who was one of the first in the queue for a presentation pack, added: "She was such a caring person and there probably won't be anyone like her again."

Counter clerk Kirsty Scown, who manned the special stand selling Diana stamps, said: "It has been incredibly busy. We kept having to bring in more stocks from the store room because the stamps were selling so well."

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