Council orders man to take down British Army flag

London, Sep 17 : A patriot flying the British Army flag outside his house was told by local council to take it down because they considered it advertising.

Dave Dingvean today branded the order to remove the military colours as 'treacherous'.

Dingvean, 46, a volunteer for the British Army Association who raises money for the charity, was told any national flag was acceptable - but not those of our nation's armed forces.

Council officials warned Dingvean that flying the 'non-ceremonial' flag of the British Army outside the front of his house was in "breach of planning control" and he would end up in court if he did not remove it.

"A friend gave it to me and I decided to fly it to support our troops. Someone must have seen it and reported me because within two days I had a letter from the council telling me to take it down," Dingvean said.

The letter from planning officers Maldon Council said: "It has come to the attention of the council that a tall flag pole has been erected at the front of the above property. A site inspection has shown that a red Army flag is being flown.

"Such a flag does not benefit from any sort of consent under the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2007."

Dingvean, a member of the British Army Association, which promotes the welfare of troops and brings ex-servicemen together, has expressed his anger at the decision.

"This is treacherous. It is petty minded, they are not thinking about the troops. And no one in the village has complained to me.

"So I can fly the flag of Iraq, Baghdad or Afghanistan but not the army flag. It's ridiculous. It's a show of support," he said.

In protest, the father of two is now flying the national flag of Saudi Arabia on a flagpole outside his semi-detached bungalow.

ANI