Kat Copeland's Olympic win marked with gold postbox

The post box was painted gold on Sunday

A postbox in a Teesside town has been painted gold in honour of Olympic gold medal winner Kat Copeland.

Miss Copeland, of Ingleby Barwick, triumphed in the women's double scull, alongside her rowing partner Sophie Hosking.

As with all gold medallists, the pair are also featured on specially-issued stamps.

Local post offices opened on Sunday to sell them, with Stockton reporting it had sold out very quickly.

'Burst into tears'

Miss Copeland began rowing at Yarm School seven years ago, when she was 14.

Speaking to BBC Tees about being the mother of an Olympic champion, Penny Copeland said: "It hasn't sunk in fully yet, when it does you just burst into tears. It's fantastic, she's done so well."

Miss Copeland's father Derek Copeland said he thinks she looks "beautiful when she is rowing".

He said: "She's done us and the whole of the north east proud. It will be a long time before she realises what she's achieved - at 21 she's a gold medallist, no one is taking that away from her, ever."

Her school coach, Andy Clarke, was among those supporting her.

'Just awesome'

He said: "To make the Olympic squad, and then not really be favourites but to go on and pull it out of the bag and win was fantastic."

Family friends Sandra and Will Elliot were among the first to buy a set of the stamps.

Mr Elliot said: "It's great to have known her and seen all her dreams come true."

Mrs Elliot said: "We cried and cried at the semi-finals, and cried even more at the finals.

"It was just awesome."