ROYAL Mail says two post boxes painted in the colours of Southampton football club will be returned to their original colour.
Two boxes were painted with white stripes after Southampton reached their first major final for 14 years at Wembley next month, after beating Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Despite the celebratory decorations, the Royal Mail have said that they won’t be staying that way.
Shane Long’s stoppage-time strike at Anfield saw the Saints march past Liverpool to book their place at Wembley in the EFL Cup final on Tuesday night, sparking celebrations across the city.
One box on Queensway and another south of the Bargate, pictured, had been painted, with the actions dividing residents on whether it was an act of vandalism or an acceptable form of congratulations.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We congratulate Southampton FC on their success, however will be returning the post boxes to their original colour as soon as it is possible.”
The theme continues from the London 2012 Olympic games, where every gold medal achieved by Great Britain was rewarded with a gold-painted post box.
However, the post boxes have split opinion.
Some fans were pleased to see the changes recognising the achievement around the city, with some bemoaning the fact that tax payers’ money would have to clean it up.
Graham Paul, 26, a barman from the city centre, said: “It’s beautiful to me. I think two is probably enough, but they’re celebrating the achievement and that’s what counts. It’s not every day you reach a major final.”
Jeffrey Vigar, 75, retired from Bevois Valley said: “It is vandalism. Yes I’m proud of the team but it’s the taxpayers who have to pay for this to be cleaned up.”
