CCTV footage shows a cherry picker and contractors in the early hours of Tuesday as flags tied to lampposts were taken down across the town.
The flag, and the cherry picker in the background (Image: Facebook)
St George’s flags were removed ahead of national day celebrations, enraging local residents and reigniting a wider row over patriotic displays. People living in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire accused the council of deliberately removing them ahead of St George’s Day, sparking fresh anger tied to the growing “Raise the Colours” movement.
CCTV footage shows a cherry picker and contractors in the early hours of Tuesday as flags tied to lampposts were taken down across the town. In one clip, a worker climbs onto a wall before removing a flag and returning to a waiting vehicle.
A man dressed in black with the St George’s flag in his hand (Image: Facebook)
Dozens of flags had been installed across the area in the run-up to St George’s Day as part of Operation Raise the Colours, a grassroots campaign encouraging the public display of England flags in towns and cities.
The Sun reported that the removals have triggered a wave of anger locally, with residents claiming the flags were removed “in the dead of night” without warning.
One resident said the displays had improved the area’s appearance and should have been left up for the celebrations. They said: “These flags were put up… and looked great.
“Then in the dead of night, they are removed without warning. It’s a disgrace.”
The man walks away after removing the flag (Image: Facebook)
Another local, Paul Carter, said: “So angry.
“Just going over the bridge and seeing no flags, what low-life anti-patriotic idiots, decide to take them down just before St George’s Day, as if they could not leave up for a few days!
The council has previously said flags attached to lampposts and street furniture are often removed for health and safety reasons, as they are unauthorised attachments requiring maintenance checks and contractor intervention.
Similar disputes have been reported elsewhere in recent months as Operation Raise the Colours has spread online, with supporters organising coordinated flag displays across multiple towns.
In several areas, councils have removed flags citing safety concerns, while others have left them in place, fuelling accusations of inconsistent enforcement.
Critics of the movement have previously warned that unauthorised flag displays can create tension in mixed communities, while supporters argue they represent legitimate expressions of national pride.
The controversy forms part of a wider national debate over the visibility of flags in public spaces, particularly around major celebrations such as St George’s Day, where local authorities are often forced to balance safety rules with community sentiment.
The council has been approached for comment.