A movement dubbed "Operation Raise the Colours" has seen defiant locals hang hundreds of St George's flags across the country in reaction to councils taking them down.

The Union Jack and St George's flags have been raised by locals up and down the country as part of the movement.

Flags were first hung up in Birmingham and east London this month before being taken down by council chiefs.

The movement has seen communities across the country hanging up flags on their streets in Manchester, Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich and the Isle of Wight.

Activists are using a Facebook page to broadcast themselves hanging up flags, but also helping others to gather flags.

Members are even offering each other transport and equipment.

Flags being raised as part of the movement

One user posted that, "60 of the 120 just collected" and that it was "going to be a busy few evenings".

Another wrote: "I just feel that the time has come to all band together and refuse to be bullied".

"We are proud of our country and should not be made to feel otherwise," they said.

Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman, who was found guilty of electoral fraud in 2015, has made attempts to hinder the movement.

Flags on street poles

He said flags that have been put up in the London borough will be taken down "as part of routine maintenance".

His comments received backlash from residents.

Group members have vowed to further their efforts and rejected claims that the movement was "aggressive".

It comes as the Prime Minister said he "absolutely" supported people raising English flags, a spokesman said.

The PM's spokesman said: "I haven't asked him about specific cases, specific councils, but I think the PM has always talked about his pride in being British, the patriotism he feels".

Discussing whether Keir Starmer supports people flying the flag, the spokesman added: "Absolutely - we put up English flags all around Downing Street".

"Every time the English football team, women's and men's are out, trying to win games for us," the spokesman said.

However, the PM fell short of commenting on individual cases, including disputes in Tower Hamlets and Birmingham.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised "two-tier policy" - adding the "Union Flag and St George's Cross" were "part of our national identity".

"Displaying these flags shouldn’t just be allowed - it should be encouraged, and they should fly with pride," he said.

"Councils like Birmingham and Tower Hamlets allowed flags of other countries to be displayed for weeks or months.

"But at the first sign of our national flags and they come straight down.

"More two tier policy. It is simply wrong.”

A spokesman for the council said: "We are aware members of the public have been putting up St George's flags on various structures".

They added that "we recognise people wish to express their views" but it had a responsibility to "monitor and maintain council infrastructure".