Furious Huddersfield residents demanded a police manhunt to catch the culprit after a number of postboxes were given an unwanted lick of paint in recent weeks
The mystery of postboxes in a UK town being painted green has been solved after a self-confessed ‘Green Pimpernel’ admitted their guilt.
Furious Huddersfield residents demanded a police manhunt to catch the culprit after a number of postboxes were given an unwanted lick of paint in recent weeks.
West Yorkshire Police launched an investigation after residents complained about “vandalism of the Queen's property”.
The conundrum has both angered and baffled residents. At first there was speculation that it may have been a stunt by a Green Party supporter ahead of the Council elections.
Then residents suspected a possible link to Ireland.
Postboxes in Ireland were originally red and seen as a symbol of British rule, but were painted over in green when the country gained its independence.
But now, hiding behind their anonymity, the so-called Yorkshire Banksy has written a garbled letter to ExaminerLive explaining their actions.
The Pimpernel, thought to be an American, says they have "taken on the task of identifying dilapidated postboxes within Kirklees that have not seen a lick of paint for years, which I have been retiring to the original colour of green with a modern neon or turquoise twist. In its simplest form it is an artistic expression."
Kirklees councillor Bernard McGuin, who last week joked that the paintings could be “a Sinn Fein propaganda stunt” after the party's success in the NI Assembly Elections, has urged the person responsible to stop.
He said: “This is costing Royal Mail money every time to repaint them. Whoever is doing this should realise that the council is not responsible for this and I would urge them to stop doing it.
"If they are making a point about the state of the roads, although I sympathise, this is not the right way to do things.
“There have been a few 'jokey' comments about myself being responsible but I do not think upsetting the people living near these now multi-coloured monstrosities are laughing anymore. Enough is enough, whatever point this so-called Green Pimpernel is making is being lost.
"Another fear I have is that we are inspiring copycats to carry out more vandalism so I ask for vigilance from people and to report any suspicious activity near Royal Mail post boxes."
It comes after enraged locals demanded a police manhunt to catch the culprit.
Margaret Hardy, 79, who has lived in the Edgerton suburb for more than 40 years said: "Edgerton is a conservation area so we take any kind of 'tradition-baiting' extremely seriously here. I just hope the police are doing their best to find the culprit.”
Zena Walker, who turned up for work at a hardware store on Thursday to find the postbox next to it painted green, said: "I immediately reported it to the police as it is vandalism of the Queen's property. I was given a crime reference number and I want it repainted in its proper colour as soon as possible.
“On Thursday, it was the talk of the shop with people asking what had happened."
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We do not know who repainted these postboxes, and are reporting this matter to the police. We will be repainting the boxes in the iconic red as soon as possible."
Both Sinn Fein and West Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.
