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A Labour councillor is calling for spray-painted England flags to be removed from a zebra crossing as they are "disrespectful". A picture shows the "wonky" markings and the councillor wants them removed as a "priority".

The St George's flag markings have been painted on a zebra crossing on Earlsdon Street, in Coventry, as part of Operation Raise the Colours. The movement has seen flags painted on streets and attached to lamp-posts up and down the UK in recent months, with those responsible claiming to be motivated by patriotism. However, some councils have decided to remove them due to fears they are provocative at a time when tensions continue to run high over immigration.

As reported by Coventry Live, Labour councillor Ant Tucker has condemned the latest markings in his area. He said the zebra crossing should be used for pedestrian safety rather than having "wonky red lines" painted on them.

He said: "Our flag deserves respect, and that is not what we achieve by spraying wonky red lines on our street, defacing road markings put there so people can cross safely. I have asked these to be cleaned up as a priority.

"We should fly our flag with pride, not scrawl it on the ground for cars to drive over. Union Jack symbolises the moment the people of this island came together as one country.

"St George was born in Turkey and died as a result of religious persecution. It means our flags stand for unity and tolerance."

Coventry City Council has been approached for comment on the appearance of St George's and Union flags appearing across the city in recent months.

Meanwhile, in Stockport, two Labour councillors are demanding that St George's and Union flags to be taken down from lamp-posts with one of them describing the flags as "racism dressed up as patriotism". Both Councillor Joe Byrne and Councillor Claire Vibert have called for the flags to be removed after residents expressed their "upsetting concern" around them being put up. Councillor Byrne, Labour, said: "We need to make a stand and we need to show that any form of racism is unacceptable, even when dressed up as patriotism. I will re-ask as I have done countless times over the past few months, take the flags down without delay." Labour's Councillor Vibert added: "Sometimes it's hard but we have to just do the right thing, so I just wanted to lend my voice to the request from councillor Byrne that the flags are taken down and that we show our communities that we don't tolerate acts that are intended to intimidate other members of our community."

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