A GOLDEN postbox awarded to an athlete to celebrate her historic success at the 2012 Paralympics is set for much needed repairs ahead of the Rio games next month.

A postbox was painted gold on Portland to celebrate Helena Lucas’ success in the single-person keelboat (2.4mR) sailing at the Paralympics in 2012.

It is on Pound Piece, in the St George’s Estate in Weston on Portland, and has fallen into disrepair in recent months, with residents suggesting it is down to general wear and tear and weather damage, rather than malicious criminal damage.

The plaque, which commemorates Lucas’s success, has been particularly badly damaged with part of it coming off.

With Lucas set to sail again in Rio, calls have been made for work to be done to get the postbox in the best condition possible as she goes for glory once more.

Mayor of Portland, Sandy West, said: “I think it looks really sad. I really think that it needs updating. She won our first medal in sailing. It definitely needs doing again, especially as she’s going to be sailing in the Paralympics again next month, of course so many people want to visit the postbox.

“We’re really proud of that post box, it’s something for Portland to take great pride in. I would be really keen to see them come and sort this out, I would 100 percent be behind it.”

Cllr West added that it was great to see Portland’s sailors proving so successful again in Rio and hoped that Lucas could add to that tally next month.

Lucas made history in 2012, becoming the first British sailor ever to win a Paralympic gold and was made an MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours list for services to sailing.

Now though, the postbox is set to get a much needed repair job.

A Royal Mail spokesman said, “Royal Mail is aware of the damage to the plaque on the post-box and will ensure it is repaired.”

Lucas used to live on Portland and still trains in the waters of the island and Weymouth.

She was the first GB athlete to be selected for Rio 2016, to coincide with her 40th birthday.

Speaking at the time she said that it felt ‘amazing’ to be selected and to be given the chance to defend her gold.

Postboxes were painted in honour of all the gold medallists at the 2012 games.

Dorset’s other golden postbox is on Cheap Street, Sherborne, and is to mark Peter Wilson’s medal in the shooting men’s double trap.

Sir Ben Ainslie’s postbox is located in Restronguet in Cornwall.