Dartford postboxes painted like Mr Blobby and Creme Eggs

The "googly eyes" were added to the Mr Blobby postbox a few days after it was painted pink

A mystery artist is being sought by police in Dartford after postboxes were spray-painted to look like Mr Blobby and a Cadbury's Creme Egg.

Kent Police said the five postboxes were sprayed between 19 and 20 February on various roads in the area.

People are split between those enjoying the new look, dubbing the mystery painter "Danksy", and those who worry that it brings the area's value down.

Kent Police are treating the painting spree as criminal damage.

The recent re-sprays follow another 26 incidents of postboxes painted gold, mainly in the Temple Hill are of the town, between 31 January and 5 February.

A man was arrested on 13 February in connection with the gold spray-painting and has since been released on bail until 4 May while inquiries continue.

'It made me laugh at first'

One man who lives in the area, who wanted to be called Nik M, told the BBC he first noticed a postbox at the corner on Trevithick Drive and Wellcome Avenue had been spray-painted gold on 25 January.

It was re-painted by Royal Mail sometime between 16 and 18 February, he said.

But on 19 February his child sent him a photo to show that it had been "painted pink with yellow spots like Mr Blobby".

"Googly eyes" and "red paint around the opening" were added a couple days later to enhance the resemblance to the clumsy pink character, who first appeared on popular 90s BBC TV show Noel's House Party.

Nik M said the postbox on his way to work went from gold - back to red - and then was painted like Mr Blobby

"It's clear to see that the job was done in a hurry," Nik said, adding that it was "patchy and uneven" and "just looks like vandalism".

"Although the Mr Blobby paint job did make me laugh at first, I think it just makes the area look rough."

He said he would like the idea of postboxes being painted in different colours and patterns if it was done "with care" by "approved local or celebrity artists".

The postbox on St. Vincent's Road has been painted to look like a Creme Egg

Nicola Reynolds, who lives near the postbox on St. Vincent's Road, said she thought the new Creme Egg design was "terrible" and prefers the previous gold spray-paint.

But some have dubbed the mystery artist "Danksy", added Nik, arguing it "brings a bit of colour" to Dartford.

Others are dismissing the act as vandalism "that brings the value of the area down" and are worried Royal Mail will close pillar boxes or remove them altogether, he said.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said the organisation was working with Kent Police and supporting the investigation.

In the meantime, Royal Mail is in the process of having the affected postboxes restored to their original red, they added.