THE not-so-secret secret is out - the Royal Mail has confirmed the postbox in the centre of Taunton has been painted blue to mark next month's Cricket World Cup.

The North Street box is one of 10 special edition postboxes honouring the game of cricket in each of the tournament's host cities and towns.

Each box is adorned with cricket related facts connected to the local area and will be decorated for the duration of the tournament.

Mark Street, head of campaigns at Royal Mail, said: "We love the opportunity to celebrate great British traditions, and what better occasion than the honour of being the host nation for the Cricket World Cup?

"We are delighted to honour this quintessentially British sport and important occasion on our iconic postboxes."

The Royal Mail had declined to comment when the County Gazette approached its spokesman last week, although people around Taunton were convinced the initiative was to mark the cricket tournament.

The eyes of the world will be on Taunton as the Cooper Associates County Ground, home to Somerset County Cricket Club, hosts three matches - Afghanistan v New Zealand on Saturday, June 8; Australia v Pakistan on Wednesday, June 12; and West Indies v Bangladesh on Monday, June 17.

The tournament features 48 matches, starting on Thursday and concluding with the final on July 14.

Somerset County Gazette:
EYE-CATCHING: Taunton's blue postbox, in North Street

Paul Smith, director of city and spectator experience ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, said: "This is a fantastic activation that will help bring the tournament to life in our host cities.

"We saw the amazing interest around the Olympic Games postboxes and we expect these versions to do the same thing.


READ MORE: Why has this Taunton postbox turned blue?


"We have worked hard to deliver a World Cup atmosphere outside of the cricketing stadiums with our free to enter fanzones and city activations and this is another great way of engaging members of the public in this amazing tournament."

As well as Taunton, blue postboxes have appeared in Southampton, Birmingham, London (Lord’s), Manchester, Nottingham, Chester-le-Street, Cardiff, Bristol and Leeds.