Local authorities up and down the country have spent at least £70,000 removing unauthorised flags, according to freedom of information (FOI) requests.
A campaign named ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ encouraged people to put up Union Jacks and the St George’s Cross in public spaces without authorisation.
The Observer sent FOI requests to more than 380 councils and found cash-strapped local authorities have been forced to spend thousands removing the flags.
Medway Council, for example, spent £11,600 taking down 727 flags, while Yorkshire councils spent more than £30,000.
