A village renowned worldwide for its yarn bombing has been left furious as new solar-powered postboxes have forced them to retire their 'spectacular toppers'.
Knitted postbox toppers created by the Titchfield Yarnbombers have been seen across the world, but now they fear their festive tradition will come to an end.
As the Royal Mail has made sweeping changes to its iconic red postboxes, the Hampshire village is expected to have a solar-powered box installed.
The village postbox - which is regularly adorned with a creatively designed toppers - has since had its door removed to be modified.
Similar to 3,500 postboxes around the UK, the red mailbox will be fitted with small solar panels - stopping the Yarnbombers crowning it with their knitted creations.
Suzy Jackson, 66, the founder of the knitting group, said that she was 'very sad' to see a 'much-loved feature of the village' removed.
There have been creations for Remembrance Day, Harry Potter, Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, and even a topper made as a fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Trust.
Ms Jackson first began making the toppers before COVID, later deciding to start the group in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
'It has become quite a focal point in the village. People love to take pictures of the toppers. They are completely eccentric,' she said.
'It is a much-loved feature of the village. Photos of the postbox are shared worldwide.'
She added: 'Everyone in the village goes by it because it is in the centre of the village, and the kids love it.
'We are all just really sad that we are losing not just the access to the post office but the surface that we decorate.'
Ms Jackson has become concerned about the impact the new mailboxes will have on the post office because they would lose business - putting their future in danger.
She said she had contacted Royal Mail and customer services to complain about the change to the postbox, but had been unable to get through.
The new postbox design will have solar panels on top of a digitally-activated drawer, allowing customers to deposit small parcels.
Although the door has been removed from the postbox, it is unclear when it will be replaced, leaving Ms Jackson concer
A petition has been started by a resident of the village, Lyn Mobley, to protest the postbox change and has been signed by over 250 people.
The petition says: 'Royal Mail is removing Titchfield's traditional postbox and replacing it with a solar-powered digital machine that allows the posting of small parcels while side-stepping the use of the actual Post Office, which it is directly outside of.
'Revenues will go directly to Royal Mail, and nothing will go to the Post Office.
'We do not want to lose our local Post Office and so are petitioning to keep our beloved and traditional postbox and to stop it from being replaced with a digital or solar version.
'Replacing the traditional postbox in this way could significantly impact the viability of our Post Office and local shops, and leave no coverage of Post Office services in the surrounding area.'
Comments on social media have also shown their support for the Yarnbombers and their postbox toppers.
'I have enjoyed your yarn bombers group since 2020, as have my boys, even if they haven't always realised. I will (and the boys) be sad if the village lose the post box.'
Kathryn Emery said: 'That's really bad news. So many people get so much joy from seeing all the different topical themes.
'I photograph them and forward to the family in South Africa, they love them. Such a Shame.'
Ms Jackson has said that she will continue the Yarnbomber group to allow people in the village to 'make friends', and to 'earn and use their skills'.
She said the group had looked at trying to buy an old postbox to allow them to carry on making postbox toppers, but as they cost over £1000, it would not be possible.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'Postboxes of the future offer another convenient way for customers to access Royal Mail's services.
'We appreciate the passion and care that goes into the crocheting, knitting and decorating of toppers. With 115,000 postboxes across the UK, there are plenty that remain unaltered and that will remain the case in the future.'