A YEAR on from the London Olympics, the Royal Mail has confirmed that two of its post boxes painted gold in Alton and the neighbouring village of Bentworth will stay gold.

The postboxes were painted in honour of Bentworth showjumper Peter Charles, whose team took the equestrian gold medal at Greenwich Park last summer.

Located at Paper Mill Lane in Alton and at Holt End Lane, Bentworth, the postboxes recently had a new coat of paint and now sport a commemorative plaque.

It is the first time Royal Mail has permanently changed the colour of any of its iconic boxes to celebrate an historic event.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.