Teesside rower wins gold

Police are investigating after the post box that was painted gold to mark Kat Copeland's Olympic medal success was vandalised.

The post box, on Apsley Way in Ingleby Barwick, was painted gold by Royal Mail on Sunday. Just days later writing was scratched onto the paintwork. Royal Mail has now repainted the post box.

Cleveland Police has said it's speaking to two girls, aged 11 and 15, who are from outside the area.

Royal Mail has issued a statement after Kat Copeland's gold post box in Ingleby Barwick was vandalised:

A post box which had been painted gold in recognition of a Teesside rower's Olympic medal success has been vandalised.

The box on Apsley Way, in Stockton was painted on Sunday morning after Kat Copeland and her rowing partner Sophie Hosking won gold in the Women's lightweight quadruple sculls at London 2012.

However the box was vandalised and has had to be repainted by Royal Mail.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We were made aware of the Olympic gold post box having been vandalised by a member of the public.

"Two girls aged 11 and 15 from outside of the area are believed to be responsible and arrangements are being made by police to speak with them.”

Stamps will be back on sale this morning to mark the win of Teesside Olympic champion Kat Copeland.

Post offices in Stockton, Darlington and Hartlepool opened specially to sell the stamps yesterday. The Stockton High Street branch sold-out of the stamps within an hour.

Teesside's Kat Copeland and Durham University graduate Sophie Hosking has been speaking to us after their Olympic gold medal win in the Women's lightweight double sculls.

Royal Mail has painted one of its post boxes gold in Stockton-on-Tees in honour of Kat Copeland's Olympic medal success.

The rower, who was born in Ashington, Northumberland and now lives in Ingleby Barwick, won gold along with her partner Sophie Hosking in the Women's lightweight double sculls yesterday.

The post box on Aspley Way in Stockton has been painted in recognition of the 21-year-old achievement.

Stamps showing the pair after winning their gold medal were also issued by Royal Mail. They went on sale at a post office branch in Stockton and sold out within hours.

The Royal Mail will turn a post box in Stockton gold to celebrate Kat Copeland's Olympic rowing gold medal.

The post box on Apsley Way will be repainted this morning, as a special gold medal stamp featuring Kat and her partner Sophie Hosking goes on sale.

The stamp's been produced in less than 24 hours since the pair won the women's lightweight double sculls at Eton Dorney. A fleet of 90 vehicles will deliver it to 500 post offices nationwide, including the one on Stockton High Street, where it will be available to buy from lunchtime.

The post office will be open despite it being a Sunday.