English flags stolen

Mar 21 2008 The Journal

ENGLISH flags at a border with Scotland have been stolen, in the latest of a spate of identical thefts.

Three flags of St George were taken from the crossing at Lamberton on the A1, three miles north of Berwick, some time before March 13, it emerged yesterday.

The thefts are said to happen regularly, with the flags having only been put up last September to replace a previous set which were also stolen.

At the time, eight-year-old Graham Coates from Tweedmouth had gone into the offices of Berwick Borough Council to ask why English flags were missing from the border, and was asked to help hoist the replacements.

The council is mystified by the thefts.

Scottish flags at the border have never been stolen and the authority believes it may be football fans, souvenir hunters or alcohol fuelled pranksters who are taking the English ones. Each flag costs £85 and so each time the three are stolen, the council is having to spend over £250 of taxpayers’ money to replace them.

Tim Kirton, head of regeneration at the council, yesterday expressed his disappointment that the flags have again been stolen.

Mr Kirton said: “We have worked closely with the Highways Agency, their agents A-One Ltd and Northumberland Tourism to refurbish the border crossing on the English side and thieves have yet again ruined the experience for visitors by stealing these flags.

“We are increasingly frustrated that this act of vandalism is not only making the entrance to England, and Northumber-land, look poor but it is costing local council tax payers money as we have had to order new ones.

“ If anyone has any information about the theft, we would urge them to contact the police.”