A TOWN with hundreds of flags flying from lamposts has hit out at its killjoy local council after they refused to fly one on the town hall for St. George’s Day.

Residents of Braintree, in Essex, slammed officials for stripping down national flags put up by patriotic locals.

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Braintree local council refused to fly a flag on the town hall for St. George’s Day Credit: John McLellan

Flags flutter from lampposts Credit: John McLellan

Meanwhile, the council did not fly the flag at the town hall to celebrate St George’s Day last Thursday.

The “hypocrisy” comes after leaked Government documents last month claimed both flags, the symbols of England and Britain, could be considered “tools of hate”.

But those in Braintree say there is no issue with “showing patriotism” and called on the local district council to join in.

Maria Moore, 56, a retired assistant catering manager, said: “Flags are regularly put up here and if taken down, they are soon replaced.

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“I don’t see any problem with showing our patriotism and being British by flying our national flag.

“I’m proud of our flag, and it looks great.”

Retired carpenter, Robert Smith, 72, added: “We should be proud to be British and keep putting up more flags.

“In America you see the Stars and Stripes everywhere, it’s a very patriotic country, and so should we be.

“(The town hall) is the only pole in the town without a flag, and I doubt they’ll bother to mark it this year either.”

Lorry driver, Kevin Jackson, 55, added: “This is England, and if I want to fly the Union flag, I should be free to do so and not be afraid of upsetting the government.”

But Eileen Smith, 70, a retired nurse from Chelmsford, warned the flags could make migrants feel unwelcome.

She said: “I don’t normally agree with the government but I think minority groups are starting to feel unwanted and in troubled times like now, we need to get on with each other.”

Braintree District Council leader Graham Butland said: “Flags are removed by Essex County Council from highways infrastructure where they pose a risk to the safety of road users.

“They may also be removed by district, borough or city authorities where they are in breach of planning controls.

“All councils in Essex work alongside each other and are aware of the approach being taken on flags, however, we cannot comment on the merits or otherwise of central government policy.”