Controversy as 'patriotic' flags continue to pop up across the East Midlands
It's been happening all over the country for the last fortnight
Drivers passing roundabouts in the East Midlands may've noticed more patriotic flags popping up recently.
Campaigners have been putting Union Jack & St George's flags up on lampposts & motorway bridges over the last week or so.
Sahail Chohan - from Sheffield's Stand Up To Racism branch - says he's not surprised by the timing of it:
"This is a form of intimidation.
"It's an assertion - almost marking territory - I think it's a provocation and cowardice - all rolled into one.
"I think the people who've put these flags up are trying to intimidate anybody who is anti-racist.
"Why now? Well, it's a year on from what happened in Manvers and across the country with the far-right protests.
"They far right are trying to create a panic - I don't think we need to panic - we just need to stand firm.
"The far right will want it to be a part of the British tradition, but these flags aren't a British tradition, they're a tradition of the far right.
"As far as the intimidatory effect of it - I think people will be stronger for it.
"People won't shy away and confront any of this intimidation facing our communities.
"I think Sheffield is a city of sanctuary, and it has long recognised the need for us to stand as one."
However, one man in Chesterfield we had a chat with didn't seem to have a problem with the flags:
"We should be proud of being English. If I put a Palestinian flag up there, there'd be hundreds of people saying how wonderful it is.
"Why not put an English flag up? We're English at the end of the day."
This woman who also lives in the North Derbyshire town has a different view though:
"It just promotes negativity towards people who aren't originally from England or white specifically.
"I don't think what's happening is a good thing at all, I disagree with it.
"Politics has become so polarised recently, and I think people are really swinging heavily over to the right."
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways and Transport, Councillor Charlotte Hill said:
“The council’s highways policy sets out a risk-based approach to managing these sorts of issues, including flags being attached to streetlights, so that we can make sure that our roads and pavements are safe for everyone to use.
“If we are made aware that flags have been attached to lamp posts we will assess to see if these pose a danger to the public and only remove them if they do pose a danger. It is highly unlikely that we will remove the majority of flags. We will take the same approach if flags are painted on roundabouts.”