A SPECIAL delivery by Royal Mail has ensured a Haslemere landmark now looks first-class.

When the Haslemere Society contacted Royal Mail to highlight the poor state of the town’s replica Penfold letter box in the High Street in its 150th anniversary year, the service reaction was post haste.

The letter box’s octagonal style was designed by John Penfold, who was born in Haslemere and later worked in London as a distinguished architect and surveyor.

His winning design was introduced in 1866, but the colour scheme was changed in the 1870s as it was deemed to be too inconspicuous in a largely rural country.

The green octagonal design was finally replaced with a circular red box in 1879 and Haslemere’s replica Penfold (pictured) was installed in 1992 – officially unveiled by county councillor Christine Stevens.

Following the society’s request, Royal Mail traced the exact paints and colours which had originally been used to ensure Penfold’s hometown has a beautifully restored memorial to one of its most famous residents.

Royal Mail spokesman Sally Hopkins said: “We have over 115,000 postboxes around the country. Some postboxes are rarer than others and some have a very special place in our heritage.

“They are also an icon of the UK’s postal system around the world. We are proud of our much-loved postboxes and go to great lengths to maintain and repair them.”