An organiser behind a recent trend of England and Union flags being raised across the country has said it is being done to restore "civic pride" in Britain.

Flag-raising teams have been spotted in towns and cities across the country.

But not all areas have approved the surge in patriotic flags, with local authorities such as Tower Hamlets and Birmingham tearing down the flags.

Joseph Moulton, an organiser with Flag Force UK, told GB News that the group wanted to make a "positive impact" rather than just "complaining on social media".

"For us, raising the flag and tidying the local area is about mobilising the community, rekindling social responsibility, and restoring pride in where we live.

"In recent years, especially since Covid, the loss of pubs and communal spaces, and the pressures of the cost of living, people have become more atomised and insular.

"Combined with wider social and economic difficulties, it is clear we need to start taking responsibility for our communities and making a positive impact, rather than just complaining on social media."

Flag Force UK Joseph Moulton said raising the flag is about 'restoring pride' in where you live

He added: "Ultimately, around the world, people fly their flag with pride and no one bats an eye. We have the same right to do so while using the attention it gets to spur on positive action."

Mr Moulton spoke exclusively to GB News as flags were brought down in York.

Flag Force UK said it "suspects" Labour-run York City Council is behind the removal of the flags and called for them to be returned.

"They are legally ours, bought and paid for by local people, the group wrote to X.

Flags have been removed from the streets of York

"The council have no right to seize them. We demand their immediate return – York’s pride belongs to its people."

The council said it was looking into reports that the flags had been removed, with one local resident telling the People’s Channel that a cherry picker was used to bring down the flags