Unity flagging in bitter national identity storm

'BATTLEGROUND' ACROSS REGION AS FLAGS FLY AND OTHERS RIPPED DOWN

- JAMIE BRASSINGTON

FLAG wars are erupting across the West Midlands as some locals have started to remove the national symbols as soon as they are put up.

Two areas in particular have become epicentres of what is becoming an increasingly fraught cultural debate about identity.

In the busy Birmingham suburb of Stirchley, flags were spotted being put up by men with ladders in Pershore Road on Thursday evening.

But no sooner were they placed on lampposts they disappeared as another group took them down. By 11pm it appeared most of the flags had gone.

A few miles away in Brownhills, Walsall, a huge display of St George's crosses on a roundabout is also causing ructions.

The appearance of the flags has sparked a debate with those responsible describing it as a patriotic move.

But it has also sparked concern from anti-racism campaigners amid claims the campaign is politically-motivated and sowing division.

Cllr Mary Locke, who represents Stirchley, said she was aware of the flags and had made relevant council departments aware.