Kat Copeland's Ingleby Barwick gold postbox vandalised

All Olympic gold medallists are having postboxes painted in their honour

A postbox painted gold in a Teesside town in honour of Olympic champion rower Kat Copeland has been vandalised.

Cleveland Police said that the damage to the postbox, in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, consisted of initials scratched into the paintwork.

They said two girls from outside the area were thought to be responsible and they were arranging to speak to them.

It came after a gold postbox in honour of fellow gold medal winner Jessica Ennis was vandalised in Sheffield.

The graffiti on the box in Sheffield read "Go Jess".

Fans are also thought to have picked gold flecks from Andy Murray's postbox in Dunblane as mementoes.

Copeland and rowing partner Sophie Hosking won the women's double sculls on Saturday.

Cleveland Police said: "We were made aware of the Olympic gold postbox having been vandalised by a member of the public.

"Two girls, aged 11-years-old and 15-years-old, from outside of the area are believed to be responsible.

"Arrangements are being made by police to speak with them."