Flag is finally lowered from over Wisbech Town Council chambers

The Union Flag has finally been removed from over Wisbech Town Council chambers after complaints about the state of the cloth.

The removal on Thursday was carried out by council contractor Tristan South of Total Solutions, who took a short break from putting up the town's Christmas lights to lower the flag.

Town clerk Terry Jordan explained: "We know some people have been unhappy about the tatty state of the flag, but unfortunately it is not a straight forward job to get it put up and taken down.

"The council have previously discussed the issue and agreed the flag pole is not fit for purpose and that it should be replaced.

"The problem is the flag gets stuck and the only way to get it down is for someone to go up in a cherry picker and do it, which is not easy to organise. Fortunately Tristan was able to do it for us while he was putting the Christmas lights on the building, so it has not cost us anything.

"The hope now is to replace the flag pole with one that is fit for purpose so that the flag can be hoisted and lowered easily and therefore won't have to be left flying.

"That is what has happened in the past because of the issues with lowering the flag and of course it is has suffered wear and tear as a result, which has led to people complaining that it is not respectful.

"We are looking at what the best solution is for the new flag pole and that could mean relocating it off the building."