Inside the world's 'most romantic place': UK village called Lover, with locals sending Valentine's cards across the globe, takes the crown

A village called 'Lover' is sending Valentine's cards around the globe - with its unique post mark. Thousands of cards are sent from the Wiltshire community, which is dubbed the 'world's most romantic place', every February 14. Sweethearts can order online or drop into the area's pop-up post office to have the Lover postmark on their cards. The romantically named postmark has reached hearts in every continent, including Antarctica.

Meanwhile, the orders processed from China have to be specially arranged to be printed in Mandarin characters to enable staff to read the addresses. Nick Gibbs, 77, who runs the scheme alongside volunteers, called it the 'world's most romantic village' - and said so far this year they have sent 1,500 cards. He said: 'We sent cards all around the world. We sent them to every continent in the world, including Antarctica.

''We've sent them to China - [and] had to specially arrange it to print off the addresses in Chinese characters. We have appeared on American and Australian TV. A UK village called Lover, dubbed the most romantic place in the world, is sending out Valentine's Day cards with a special stamp (pictured: Lover resident Aly Clarke). 'People go online and they order their cards - they can put their own messages on the cards [and] we stamp them all up with our very special stamp.

'We even post it on Valentine's Day - some people are late, and as soon as we get them, we put them through the post. 'We get people who travel up to 100 miles or more to come and have coffee here and see the place. People want to come and have a look themselves.'. Volunteers take the annual celebration of love very seriously, with residents even decorating their houses with red and pink paper hearts.

People can send a card from the 'most romantic village in the UK' in the lead up to 14 February - by ordering it online or visit their pop-up shop. Nine years ago, residents formed the Lover Community Trust, and since then, they have sent more than 10,000 love letters. Lover resident Elaine Clarke is pictured posting Valentine's Day card in the Wiltshire-based post office. Community members help send thousands of cards with a unique stamp to every continent in the globe.

Pictured: Lover resident Nick Gibbs perched outside the Lover Village pop up post office ahead of Valentine's Day. The Valentine's Day cards each have a special 'Lover' stamp when sent from the pop up post office. Valentine's Day is a very special day for the Lover community, with residents even decorating the village. In the lead up to Valentine's Day, dozens of volunteers process the cards and run Darling cafe - attracting visitors from all over the country and overseas.

All the money paid for the cards goes back into supporting the community, including funding a major refurbishment of the Old School building. Mr Gibbs said: 'For about four decades people used to send their Valentine cards through our local post office but then the local post office closed so that stopped. 'Fairly soon after the primary school shut. Then we formed the trust to buy this building to bring it into community use, and we agreed that we would bring back the Lover Post to raise money to refurbish the building.'.

Di Bishop, 77, the chair of The Cupids - the women who do all the stamping on the cards - deals with dozens of cards everyday. She said: 'Some of the cards you wouldn't want to send them to the wrong person. I am sure nobody realises that somebody will see the messages. 'Most of them say 'I love you' or 'Happy Valentine's day'. 'There are so many horrible things going on in the world that it is really nice to actually have something that is happy and makes people smile. I think everyone at the end of the day is a bit of a romantic.

Pictured: A lane in Lover village decorated with a red love heart symbol ahead of Valentine's Day. Lover resident Bohdan Rainczuk (pictured) has decorated his home with pink love hearts to mark the occasion. Pictured: Valentine's Day decorations in Lover, which is dubbed the most romantic place in the world. The village, which sends thousands of cards across the world every year with their original postal service, attracts tourists from across the globe.

'A man came here and he said he has been coming here for the last five years and he drives 180 miles to get here and 180 miles back just to buy a card.'. Resident Bohdan Raincdzuk, who has his house decorated with paper hearts, said: 'When you drive around you see some houses decorated with hearts and it just brings a smile to your face - not many villages can do that. 'The name brings the idea of love and a good feel factor.

He added: 'There are so many bad things happening around the world that a good feel story helps it a little bit.'. Local and volunteer Ali Clarke, 62, said: 'We have this bond over Valentine's where we come together and help out and decorate our houses with hearts - it is really special. 'It makes it feel very romantic. 'At this time of the year when it is a bit gloomy it is lovely to have a few hearts around and some people even cover their trees and gardens with hearts - it is lovely.