A POSTBOX in East Oxford is getting a new lick of gold paint and inspiring Paralympic rowing cox Lily van den Broecke to win more medals at the next Olympics.

The 21-year-old former Headington School pupil won gold in the mixed coxed fours event at the London 2012 Olympic games and in December she was made an MBE for services to rowing.

Following the games, a postbox at the junction of Hill Top Road and Divinity Road was painted gold in recognition of Miss van den Broecke’s achievement.

Now it is to get a permanent coat of gold and a plaque commemorating the win.

Ms van den Broecke lived for 10 years with father Floris van den Broecke, mum Amanda Carpenter and sister Maud, now 23, in Hill Top Road.

The family recently moved to Kent but is currently also renting a flat off Cowley Road.

Miss van den Broecke, now a politics, philosophy and economics student at Durham University, said: “I’m delighted the postbox is getting a permanent coat.

“It’s a lovely tribute and will spur me on to get back into rowing after taking a year out.

“I’m able-bodied but I was allowed to join the Paralympic team.

“In October I will start rowing for Durham and the ultimate aim will be the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. This time I could try for the Olympic squad instead of the Paralympic squad, which would be a switch in dynamics.”

Royal Mail spokeswoman Val Bodden said: “All our gold postboxes are receiving a permanent coat of gold paint and will include a plaque commemorating the athlete’s achievement.

“In Divinity Road we have stripped down the box in preparation for its permanent gold coating to commemorate the achievement of Lily van den Broecke.”

In November, Royal Mail announced that all the postboxes painted gold to celebrate British Olympic and Paralympic victories in the summer would retain the colour permanently.

More than 100 postboxes around the country were painted gold to celebrate each gold medal success.

Elizabeth Mills, chairwoman of the Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, said people in the area would be delighted.

She added: “Lily grew up here and people will treasure the memory of what she achieved at London 2012.

“It’s fabulous to know that the postbox will always be gold.

“It’s a great talking point, a special symbol and a point of public celebration.”

Andy Triggs Hodge was an Oxford resident when he won a gold medal in the men’s rowing fours at the London Olympics.

At the time of Olympics, Mr Triggs Hodge, 33, had lived in East Oxford for a decade after completing his masters degree at St Catherine’s College.

He suggested that a postbox in Cowley Road could be painted gold but as he grew up in Hebden near Skipton, Yorkshire, one was painted gold there instead.