Activists agree to stop hanging flags on lampposts

A group of four activists have agreed not to put up flags on lampposts in Oxfordshire after the local council successfully applied for an injunction to end the behaviour.

Oxfordshire County Council brought the legal action to stop people raising flags near highways - which it said involved safety risks, as well as trespass and obstruction.

Those associated with the Raise the Colours movement have hung St George's Cross and Union Jack flags next to roads across the county over the past year.

During a short hearing at the High Court on Tuesday, an injunction to prevent the practice was approved, whilst four specific people singled out by the council promised to stop.

Ryan Bridge, Ben Cullen, Trudy Wells and Kevin Good also agreed not to encourage others to put flags up, and not to obstruct any council worker or contractor taking them down.

Oxfordshire County Council previously said its officers had "encountered aggressive behaviour" while removing flags from lampposts.

Robin Green, who represented the council at the High Court, told the hearing that the authority had given "no authorisation" to attach flags to roadside infrastructure.

"Where that has been done, we say it is an offence," he said.

The court approved an injunction to prevent the continued unauthorised placement of flags on or near the public highway.

Green told the court the council had also wished to pursue an injunction against the four named individuals - but would be happy for them to make a formal undertaking to the court instead.

Agreeing to the undertaking, Bridge said he had put up flags in Oxfordshire "for about six hours in my life".

"We did not want to cause any distress to anybody, which has been stated," he told the hearing.

"I feel it's a sad day for the flag of our country and what it represents."

Wells, who told the court that she had never put up any flags but was said to have encouraged others online, said: "I'm not going to have anything to do with the flags anymore, it's not worth it."

A further hearing will take place at the same court on 9 July for anyone who wishes to oppose a further court order stopping anyone else from putting up flags or obstructing staff from removing them.

Reacting to the injunction, Oxfordshire County Council leader Tim Bearder said it would "help protect" residents and council workers.

"The behaviour we've seen from Raise the Colours is nothing to do with national pride or with support for the England team during the World Cup.

"It's unlawful behaviour, which has put people at risk and caused fear within our communities for almost a year."

He previously said the council fully supported residents displaying flags on their own private property.

The widespread flying of flags has become contentious and several local authorities have removed them from public infrastructure.

While some politicians decried the removals, others claimed the increased number being flown was a result of xenophobia or racism.