'I'm shocked by global reaction to postbox topper'

A knitter says she has been left shell-shocked after more than three million people around the world watched a video of her Olympic-themed postbox topper.

Sue Cockroft, from Hereford, knitted an Eiffel Tower, the Olympic rings, and an athlete on the topper, which was displayed on Ross Road.

But there is no rest for the wicked, she says, with the Olympic display already replaced, and a Paralympics-themed topper in development.

"I was just doing, as far as I’m concerned, another topper, but it seems to have caught everybody’s imagination," said Ms Cockroft.

The video, posted by BBC Hereford and Worcester on Instagram, was promptly circulated around the world, and even reposted by double gold-winning Olympic athlete Dame Kelly Holmes.

"A friend actually reckons that the postbox should have its own Facebook page," she Ms Cockcroft said.

She has been knitting all her life, and said the pressure was on for future toppers.

"People keep coming up to me and suggesting ideas," she said.

"I work best when it just sort of comes out of my mind without me thinking about it, I just get an idea and go for it."

In the meantime, before the Paralympics, she made a "holding topper", Nellie the elephant, a blue elephant making a sandcastle.

"When I need a holding topper between big events, we’ll have Nellie doing something or other."

Nellie the elephant is now on the famous postbox, before Ms Cockroft unveils her Paralympic-themed toper

Plans are in motion for themed knitting for the rest of the year, too.

"In October, the charity for stillborn and neonatal deaths asked me if I would make one for their baby loss awareness month," said Ms Cockroft.

"Then we get Halloween, Remembrance Day, Pudsey bear will go up again for Children in Need."

"I haven’t started thinking about Christmas yet, no, it will definitely feature."