A MAN has fought back against locals who ripped down his England flag by coming up with the perfect revenge.
Simon Brocklehurst, from Nottingham, has conjured up a plan to wave a flag that residents can not remove.
BPMSimon Brocklehurst, 41, has fought back after his flag was ripped down[/caption]
SWNSThe father has painted the St George’s Cross onto his family home[/caption]
SWNSHe hopes his home will become a landmark of “Operation Raise the Colours”[/caption]
In the heartlands of North Nottinghamshire, the people of Sutton-in-Ashfield have taken flag-bearing to another level.
Near enough every lamppost bears a sign of “Operation Raise the Colours.”
However, one resident has gone one step further.
After locals ripped down his flag, Mr Brocklehurst, 41, took it upon himself to paint a St George’s Cross on the front of his house.
The flag covers the entirety of the property that he has lived in since he was five years old.
Mr Brocklehurst said: “They can’t rip this one down.”
The father hopes to make his family home a landmark of “Operation Raise the Colours.”
This campaign started in August following a series of anti-immigration protests in the wake of an asylum seeker being arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in Epping, Essex.
Mr Brocklehurst said that he feels a patriotic connection to the flag.
He went on to say that he wants to represent the “freedom” that his grandfather fought for in the Second World War.
He also explained that he has received backlash on social media with many calling him racist.
The father said: “I’m getting a bit of a bad rep on social media, people seem to think I’m racist but I’ve always seen the St George’s Cross and the Union Jack as a sign of hope.”
Mr Brocklehurst revealed plans to eventually turn the painting into a Union Jack, with the outlines already drawn onto the building.
He said: “It’s my way of putting pride back into the country.
“We have done a lot for the world. I’ve always been a ‘go big or go home’ kind of bloke.
“Somebody ripped my flag down, so I said they can’t rip this one down.”
He added: “I have not been to any of the marches because I have kids. I wouldn’t take them to that.
“I’m a father before anything else.”
BPMThe father from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham, hopes to eventually turn the painting into a Union Jack[/caption]
SWNSSutton-in-Ashfield has been home to many anti-immigration protests in recent months[/caption]
SWNSFlags have been erected along the entirety of the street[/caption]
On the backlash he has received, he said: “I’ve had a lot of abuse while I’ve been painting it, from English people calling me disgusting.
“I expect a few bricks through the window at some point.”
After his third day of painting, Simon had made significant progress on the ambitious project.
However, he explained that he is taking the process slowly, as he hopes to add the finishing touches over the next few days.
Mr Brocklehurst concluded by explaining that he doesn’t believe this to be a political statement, but said he thinks people need to wake up.
He said : “It is not against anybody, it’s just a statement to say we are here, and we are proud, it’s pride, we are English and British.
“We fought for our freedom, and I think we are silenced. I wouldn’t say this is political.
“I think that people just need to wake up.”
Locals on Mr Brocklehurst’s street have also been erecting flags in front of their homes.
Residents have revealed that they hope to cover every lamppost from Huthwaite to Mansfield.
The area has been a hotspot for a number of anti-immigration protests, often with hundreds in attendance.
This came after a local MP made allegations that a man charged with rape in the town in late July was an asylum seeker.
SWNSMr Brocklehurst claims this is a statement of pride[/caption]
SWNSHe has already drawn the outlines to transform the flag into a Union Jack[/caption]
SWNSHe has lived in the Nottingham home since he was 5 years old[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
