Post boxes have been painted green and people aren’t happy about it

Traditionally, there is only one colour for Royal Mail post boxes. In cities, towns and villages across the UK they stand out in that traditional deep red colour.

And while some were painted gold after Team GB triumphs in the London 2012 Olympics, one village has seen the police called in after they were painted bright apple-green, Yorkshire Live reports. Residents aren’t impressed at the amateurish paint job, dubbed vandalism.

One of the green pillar boxes given an unwelcome new lick of paint is outside the Lepton hardware store in Highgate Lane. Zena Walker, who runs the shop that used to be a post office, said she saw it when she arrived at work on Thursday.

She said: “It must have been done at some point when I left here on Wednesday at 4.30pm and when I came in at 8am on Thursday.

“I immediately reported it to the police as it is vandalism of the Queen’s property.

“I was given a crime reference number and I want it repainted in its proper colour as soon as possible. On Thursday, it was the talk of the shop with people asking what had happened.”

Kirklees councillor Bernard McGuin who represents Almondbury for the Conservatives said the repainted boxes had been discovered in Lepton Square, Rowley Hill and another on Station Road, Fenay Bridge.

He said: “As you can see they are badly painted. Residents consider what has been done as vandalism.

“Hopefully the boxes will be returned to the red of tradition. I hope we have an answer from Royal Mail about what is going on. As a dour Yorkshire Conservative, I miss the red ones.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We do not know who repainted these postboxes, and are reporting this matter to the police. We will be repainting the boxes in the iconic red as soon as possible.”

West Yorkshire Police has been contacted for comment.