Overly enthusiastic in Sheffield

The Royal Mail has sent an engineer out with a roller and tray of gold paint to repair the overenthusiasm of a fan who embellished the Sheffield City's Council's tribute to gold medallist Jessica Ennis.

The council had painted over the traditional red of a British Royal Mail box with gold on Sunday to honour local hero Ennis's first-place finish in the Olympic heptathalon.

As darkness fell, though, the post box on what student Stuart Collier calls the city's "main pub run" had "Go Jess" added to the gold.

Said city council leader Julie Dore: "This is our moment to shine so what a shame it is that someone has chosen to tarnish this by vandalizing a postbox painted gold in honour of our local hero. I hope they feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves."

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said an engineer was sent out quickly to obliterate the unofficial message "as a point of pride."

The city plans further celebrations when Ennis comes home, the council said in an official proclamation.

Press Association photo