Royal Mail has unveiled a set of stamps featuring mythical creatures and fabled figures from UK folklore.

Designed by London-based artist Adam Simpson, the illustrations include the Loch Ness Monster, Cornish piskies, and Beowulf and Grendel.

The set of eight stamps and the stories each represents from different regions across the UK "demonstrate our rich mythological heritage", Simpson said.

They are available to pre-order from Thursday and go on sale on 27 March.

The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., folding maps printed in red and black, brown half morocco gilt by Bayntun Riviere, "Ring" decoration on spine, t.e.g., 8vo, George Allen & Unwin, [1974]

The Hobbit, ninth printing, colour frontispiece, map endpapers, neat ownership name on blank verso of front endpaper publisher's green cloth, pictorial dust-jacket (light spotting, mostly visible on verso, verso with 4 strips of browning off-set from old tape across spine), 8vo, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1957

[The Lord of the Rings] The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King, together 3 vol., FIRST EDITION, fifth impression of 'The Fellowship of the Ring', fourth impression of 'The Two Towers', third impression of 'The Return of the King', folding map at end of each volume, light toning, publisher's red cloth (spine extremities a little bumped, slightly cocked), dust-jackets (light staining, spines a little faded, some wear to edges, short tears to 'Fellowship' at head and foot of spine), 8vo, George Allen and Unwin, [1957-1959]. Provenance: Gillian R. Wood, ownership inscription in each volume.