West Mersea Saskia Clark Olympic gold postbox repainted red

A postbox unofficially covered in gold paint to celebrate Saskia Clark's Olympic medal success has been repainted red, despite a plea from the local mayor to leave it untouched.

It is thought the box, on the edge of Blackwater Estuary, was painted gold on Friday night.

West Mersea mayor Carl Powling wrote to Royal Mail on Thursday to ask them not to repaint it.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said: "This year, Brazil, as the host nation of Rio 2016, has the honour of celebrating the Games in its own way."