People 'deeply unhappy' about St George flags

A Gateshead councillor has called for an end to graffiti involving the flag of St George after residents said they were feeling unsafe.

- By JAMES ROBINSON

It follows anger over anti-Muslim graffiti daubed in Birtley last weekend.

The incident saw red flags painted on white doors and even a car, while an Islamophobic slogan was painted on a garden fence. It follows weeks of similar incidents across the country as part of a national campaign thought to be organised by far right activists.

Speaking at Monday's meeting of the council's housing, environment and healthy communities scrutiny committee, Coun Dawn Welsh quizzed council officers on the approach to tackling the issue.

She said: "Gateshead is a very diverse community and we are very proud of that. We don't want to feel intimidated.

"Are we doing anything to watch out for this sort of thing? We have to acknowledge that people are mistaking nationalism for patriotism.