Riddle of Morecambe’s pink post boxes solved

Postboxes on Thornton Road, Acre Moss Lane, Albert Road and Marine Road East, in Morecambe have received a first-class refurbishment.

The pink pillar boxes caused a stir when they were posted on social media.

Some Lancaster and Morecambe residents were left scratching their heads over the crazy-pink colour, with some believing it 
may have been a deliberate act for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

But a Royal Mail spokesman has explained the pink colour is part of a 
repainting programme which is being rolled out across the country.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “As part of our regular rolling programme of repainting postboxes, we are currently refurbishing postboxes in the Morecambe area.

“This involves stripping off the old paint and then painting with primer, which is pink, before the box gets its final coat of Royal Mail red.

“The repainting process takes a few hours –depending on how long each coat of paint takes to dry – but we aim to complete the painting as quickly as possible so the box isn’t out of use for 
customers for any longer than necessary.​”

Local historian David Chandler was contacted by many residents over the pink postboxes after he researched the town’s postal history a couple of months before.

David said: “They were painted to do an undercoat in pink.

“It only stays like that for quite a short time.

“I suppose it would confuse a lot of people though, they are always in that same colour of pink as well.

“It is just a bit of a fun thing really but some people get quite carried away.”

Send in your Lancaster 
and Morecambe pink postbox selfies to [email protected]