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Knitters' Olympics postbox toppers for home towns

Sue Bailey A knitted postbox topper covers a Bridgend postbox, and has depictions of the Paris mascot Olympic Phryge, the Eiffel Tower, the games torch and a podium. The main colours are red and green and the base is a running track, with Go For Gold on a yellow banner on the sideSue Bailey
Paris mascot Olympic Phryge, the Eiffel Tower, the games torch and a podium all feature on this postbox topper in Bridgend

Devoted knitters in Welsh towns have created Olympic-themed postbox toppers to celebrate the Paris 2024 games.

Sue Bailey, 60, was inspired by her love of the Olympics: "When I crochet I can switch off from the world around - I love it," she said.

Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and a famous Paralympian can be seen on her toppers on postboxes in her home town of Bridgend.

Another is Sue Turner, 65, whose gold medal-wearing gymnast doing the splits in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, even led to a "random man" asking her for a photo with it.

Sue Bailey Sue Bailey, with glasses and grey short hair and wearing a blue top, sitting on a bench, smiling and crochetingSue Bailey
"Crocheting is very mindful," Sue Bailey says

After retiring Ms Bailey joined a "knit and natter" group, and began helping to crochet toppers which inspired her to make her own.

The first Olympic-themed topper she made was of the Eiffel Tower - although she had to use magnets and wood as she said getting it to stand was an nightmare.

The second she made was of Bridgend Paralympian Aled Siôn Davies, who is due to compete in his fourth games. It is now on top of a gold postbox which is there in honour of him.

Sue Bailey Knitted postbox topper of Paralympian Aled Sion Davies holding a Welsh flag and standing on a Union flagSue Bailey
Sue Bailey's crafted depiction of three-time Paralympics champion Aled Siôn Davies, who is from Bridgend

"I wanted to celebrate the fact he's a brilliant sporting star," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I wanted to give something back to the community and bring a smile to people faces. Crocheting to me is very mindful, you have to really concentrate as you are always counting.

"I can switch off from the world around me, I just love it," she added.

Ms Bailey posted pictures of her toppers in Broadlands Road on a Bridgend Facebook group and among the hundreds of comments is one from Aled Siôn Davies.

Sue Turner Sue Turner's knitted postbox topper of a GB gymnast with a gold medal around her neck on a blue mat with Paris and the five Olympic ringsSue Turner
"I didn’t think I was capable of it but I wanted to give it a go," says Sue Turner

Sue Turner, originally from Cumbria, and now living in Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn, first saw the toppers in Mumbles, Swansea, for the late Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee.

"I loved it - I didn’t think I was capable of it but I wanted to give it a go," she said.

She has made many themed toppers, including Easter, Christmas, the rugby Six Nations, D-Day and Remembrance Day.

Her Olympics topper is of a GB gymnast doing the splits with a gold medal around her neck, which took about eight days in total.

"Knitting is therapeutic for me, I find it interesting watching things develop," she said.

She has placed her topper opposite the post office in Newcastle Emlyn and will keep it there until the end of the Olympics.

"People love them - especially the local traders," she said. "Everyone’s very grateful. People say they look really good.

"I even had a random man take a picture with me next to it. It's been amazing."