Landlord cross as flags taken down

Pub landlord Mark Arnold has flown the St George Cross for the past three years.

He has five flag poles outside his Tipton hostelry and the England standard has been hoisted for all the major events throughout his time in charge.

However, when he turned up for work as manager of Legends Sports Bar in Owen Street on Wednesday he saw that the red and white flags had been taken down because the company that runs the Tipton shopping centre thought that they were obstructing CCTV cameras.

"They told me one of the flags was covering a CCTV camera and I said I would take them down, but I don't see why they had to come along and take them all down," said the 30-year-old.

"I put them up for St George's Day and I thought I would keep them up because all our troops are coming home and I wanted to show our support.

"I heard the Prime Minister say we should show our support for all the troops, fly the flag and all that, so that's what I wanted to do.

"I've had them up for most of the last three years and no-one has ever complained.

"I feel so annoyed that anyone would come along and take something that is mine, it's over the top."

Mr Arnold says he was telephoned by a member of staff when the car load of workmen turned up to remove the flags, climbing ladders to reach the top of the flag poles to pull the material down.

He also accused them of smashing an upstairs window at the pub, which is owned by his father, by leaning the ladder against the glass.

"I have had to board it up and I want to know what is going to be done," he added.

A spokesman from Harborne-based Vine Properties, the company that runs Tipton Shopping Centre, said they had only meant to take down two of the flags which covered CCTV cameras and the rest would be put back.He denied that their removal had resulted in a broken window.