Council threaten proud dad for flying flag at the wrong angle

A proud dad was threatened with a £2,500 fine by council jobsworths for flying the St George's Cross to welcome home his soldier sons – because the flagpole was at the wrong angle.

Robert Smithson raised the flag at his Sunderland home to welcome back his teenage sons Richard and Robert from their first duty since joining the Coldstream Guards.

But his patriotic gesture bizarrely left him facing a huge fine for flying the flag at his cottage in Lumley Street, Millfield, apparently at the wrong angle.



The 40-year-old said he received a letter from Sunderland City Council following a complaint by a member of the public.

He said: "Apparently I'm allowed to fly the flag vertically but not horizontally. They said the way I have it now means it's advertising, so I have to have a licence. And not to have one could mean a maximum £2,500 fine.

"It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious."