A town council has removed its Pride flag following a complaint from a Christian bookshop - sparking a furious row.
The rainbow flags were installed along the high street in the Peak District spa town of Matlock for the first time to mark Pride month in June, displayed alongside the St George's Cross and Union Flag.
Cornerstone Bookshop requested the removal of the flag outside their premises, stating they did not want to "promote homosexuality".
The decision has triggered fury among LGBTQ+ community members and residents, who accuse the council of yielding to pressure from the bookstore, allegations the local authority denies.
Cornerstone Christian Bookshop requested the removal of the flag
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Judy Crook, who runs the bookshop, told the Guardian that as, "a point of basic Christian belief, we welcome everybody", but admitted "we're not happy with the gay rights situation".
She added: "We have to respect other people's views. But we didn't want the flag flying outside our shop."
Council clerk Simon Hosmer said: "We removed the flag due to a strong belief someone would put themselves in danger by removing it themselves."
He explained the council could not afford damage to property or potential liability for injury.
"It may look to people that we have bowed under the pressure of a single complaint. That is simply not the case," Hosmer stated.
Kate Bond, a Matlock resident who donated £150 to the council for flag revitalisation, expressed dismay at the removal.
She told The Guardian: "More than anything, what I'm bothered about is the fact that it's happened without anybody knowing about it. This sly little way it's been done, it's wrong somehow. If it's your idea to put them up, stand by it."
Social media users strongly condemned the council's action.
The bookshop's owner said that they did not 'want the flag flying outside our shop'
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One user said: "This is appalling and I am keen to point out it does not reflect the views of all religions or even Christians."
Another added: "This is absolutely disgusting [in] this day [and] age. The council should be ashamed for even pandering to these type of people."
The Cornerstone Bookshop's trustees issued a joint statement to the Derbyshire Times: "Cornerstone Christian Bookshop is an inclusive organisation that wants to share the Christian faith with everyone. All are welcome to our bookshop, regardless of their sexuality.
"We would be delighted to fly the Derbyshire flag, the flag of St George or the Union Flag. However, we would decline to fly any flag representing specific political causes, as our aim is solely to promote the Christian faith."
The bookshop praised the "speedy removal" of the flag and denied making any threat to remove it themselves, according to The Derbyshire Times.