The man said he had his face smashed into the road and was struck repeatedly with a pole during the incident, which left him in hospital.

The man - who has asked not to be named but has shared a photo of his injuries - was confronted by a group of men while attempting to take down national flags in the Bowthorpe and Earlham areas at around 4am on Thursday, October 23.

Several flags have been hung from lampposts in neighbourhood, which is close to the Brook Hotel, which is used to house asylum seekers.

The banners have prompted controversy with many welcoming them as patriotic symbols, but other saying they are being flown provocatively and aggressively.

The man, who is from Norwich but not from Earlham or Bowthorpe, had previously gone to the area at night with others to remove the flags.

On this occasion he was on his own taking down a flag on Earlham Green Lane when a man and a child, who he estimates was about 12 years old, came out of a nearby home and began shouting abuse at him.

Earlham Green Lane in Bowthorpe (Image: Google)

He then retreated........

© Eastern Daily Press