The sculpture, which has been installed in the poetry garden, allows children a place to send off their own writing and celebrate rhyme and verse.

New poetry postman, Stewart Ennis started the project.

He told The Extra: "It arose out of some performances I had been doing over the past couple of years in the Botanics.

"Then I thought it would be nice for the children to have something, a solid object where they could put their own work – something which encourages them to be creative.

"As a child, I used to love posting letters to Santa Claus and I always looked forward to it.

"I hope the postbox generates the same kind of excitement.

"It also helps highlight the poetry garden itself which I think not a lot of people know about".

Funding for the box came from UnLtd, which provides support for individuals who are starting new social projects from lottery funds, while Culture and Sport Glasgow also helped with installation.

It was designed by Govan ceramicist Julia Smith and pupils at St Charles primary in the westend.

Stewart said: "The design is lovely, it has a real Victorian feel – ceramic tenement tiles and wally dugs – which fits in just nicely with the Kibble palace in the background".

He added: "At the moment, I'm checking the postbox every day, because it's really exciting that it's finally there.

"But from now on I'll check it about once a fortnight".

Some of the work will be posted online at www.thepoetrypostbox.co.uk, and a printed collection is also a possibility for the future.

Stewart hopes the postbox will also provide a new meeting place for special festival days.

He explains: "It could be a place for children to celebrate things like Diwali and Eid. With Christmas coming up, we're hoping to organise an event with a festive theme".