News

BARNSLEY'S Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy has been honoured in his home town with a gold phone box. 

The 27-year-old cyclist won gold in the men's team pursuit at London 2012 but Barnsley was told it would not be getting a gold post box to recognise the success because that honour had gone to Huddersfield where Ed grew up.

Parish councillors in Ingbirchworth stepped in to give Ed, who also won bronze in the omnium, a golden telephone box in the village where he was born.

Keith Batley said: "Ed Clancy was born in the village - just a few doors up from the phone box.

"We put some flags in it and stuck a newspaper cutting onto the window to explain to people what it's about if they're not sure."

Former Springvale Primary School pupil Ed still has family in the village as his father lives there.

Tony added: "I said we ought to be painting the post box but that isn't ours, the telephone box is though. It looks lovely."

Royal Mail, which decided to recognise all Team GB gold medal-winning athletes with a golden post box, said Barnsley missed out because boxes could be where athletes grew up or currently live and not necessarily where they were born.