Union Jacks and St George Crosses have appeared on street furniture across the country throughout the summer, with dozens put up along a large area of west Norwich since Tuesday evening.

Their appearance has sparked a row at County Hall where Labour and independent councillors are urging the highways department to remove them.

However, the calls have been resisted by the Conservative administration.

Mike Sands, Labour councillor for Bowthorpe(Image: Eleanor Storey)

Mike Sands, Labour councillor for Bowthorpe, where frequent protests have taken place over the Brook Hotel being used to house asylum seekers, said: "It was bad enough the flags near the Brook Hotel on Wendene and Dereham Roads.

"Like a festering sore that is becoming gangrenous, it is now spreading to other parts of the city and county. Taking no action to remove these flags is no longer an option."

He said those putting up the flags were "extreme right-wing groups".

Members of the community in the Dereham Road area gathered outside Norwich Central Mosque on Wednesday night to prevent flags from being put up(Image: Supplied)

He added: "Quite simply, they represent xenophobic racism and hate and the chanting that accompanies this is testament to this as fact.

"Taking no action has emboldened the groups to take further and more outrageous courses of action.

"There have........

© Norwich Evening News