A HAMPSHIRE post box has been painted gold this morning in honour of Olympic cycling heroine Dani King.

Over 50 people turned out at the post box in High Street, Hamble , to see it getting a golden makeover at 10.30am, to mark the achievement of the former Hamble Primary School pupil’s Olympic success.

The 21-year-old and her team-mates, Joanne Rowsell and Laura Trott, demolished their American rivals to win gold in the women’s cycling team pursuit on Saturday, smashing the world record for the sixth consecutive time.

The first letter to be posted into the golden post box was to Dani from her fans in Hamble.

Lynn King, Dani's mum, said: "It's overwhelming to see so many people here this morning. Its great that Hamble has had a chance to get involved in the celebrations."

Within 24 hours of being crowned Olympic champion, stamps bearing the face of the Southampton -born Olympian were on sale in Hedge End , after the Royal Mail worked through the night to print them.

The young cyclist only got into the saddle after skipping a maths lesson to try out for a British Cycling talent event being held at her school, Hamble Community Sports College.

Jonathan Prest, principal of Barton Peveril College where Dani studied A-levels before going into cycling full-time, said: “What an amazing performance from Dani and her fellow team pursuit cyclists over the past few days.

“It’s fantastic to think that a former Barton Peveril student has broken so many world records and won Olympic gold on home soil.” Mayor of Eastleigh Councillor Rupert Kyrle added: “Eastleigh has some really talented sportsmen and women and Dani has proved this with not only a gold medal but with yet another world record.”

Dani’s was only been invited to trial for the team pursuit by coach Paul Manning in November 2010 – four months later she was world champion.

Southampton-based builders’ merchant Elliott Brothers have been sponsoring her since she was 16, when she told them she aimed to be world and Olympic champion. Managing director Stuart Elliott said: “We always knew she had that something special to achieve her dreams. We are all so proud of her.”