Sales of writing paper at John Lewis have soared 79 % year-on-year, with letter writing being seen as part of a wider resurgence in home-made crafts and the desire to create more personalised communications.

According to Clare Northwood, group stationery buyer for John Lewis, there has been an uplift in sales of ‘thank you’ notelets alone of 20%.

"It is easier to ping off an email but it is more meaningful to send a thank you card, particularly if someone cooked for you and has gone that extra mile," she told the Independent on Sunday.

The trend is not just happening for adults, with sales of children’s writing sets also on the up. Hello Kitty products have risen by 62% in the past 12 months at John Lewis.

Annette Sharp, managing director of online retailer, Papernation, said that parents were seeing letter writing as a way of encouraging their children's writing skills without it being seen as homework.

"I think it is part of a wider hand-made and back-to-basics approach, appreciating the smaller things in life," she told the newspaper.

"People are a little bit fed up of being bombarded by technology. And it's actually quite nice to sit down and write a note or letter and take time over it. People see letter writing as a way of expressing their personality."

Sales of pens have also reportedly increased, with sales of fountain pens alone up 70%. This surge includes sales of expensive models such as the Mont Blanc Diamond Pen.