Ennis golden postbox vandalised

Britain's postboxes are known the world over for their bright red colour, but the Royal Mail has painted one box gold in the hometown of each British gold medallist at the London 2012 Games.

But the one painted gold for Ennis in Sheffield, northern England, was daubed with graffiti within 24 hours.

Ennis has been Britain's poster girl of the Games.

"It's on the main pub run round here and you're going to get idiots doing this kind of thing when they're tanked up," said local student Stuart Collier, 20.

"Too many drunk loons around of a night."

The box, quickly becoming a tourist attraction, is close to the city hall and opposite a giant poster of Ennis.

"This is our moment to shine, so what a shame it is that someone has chosen to tarnish this by vandalising a postbox painted gold in honour of our local hero," said Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore.

"I hope they feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves."

Royal Mail said it did not know what the graffiti said and sent an engineer out to apply a fresh gold layer as "a point of pride".

A spokeswoman said: "We are extremely disappointed that someone has chosen to vandalise the gold postbox."

Royal Mail has also issued a first class picture stamp for each British gold medal.