Police called after flags are put up near mosque

Flags have appeared in the Dereham Road area of Bowthorpe...

Dozens of flags have been put up on lampposts in part of Norwich, including outside a mosque.

Union and St George's Cross flags appeared on long stretches of Dereham Road on Tuesday night, while the words "All welcome" were pasted on a hoarding at the junction with Bowthorpe Road.

An online video showed a group of 20 to 30 people chanting and putting up the flags, with passing cars beeping their horns in support.

Norfolk Police said it was called out on two occasions to reports of a "group of people shouting and behaving aggressively", with no further action taken.

...and towards the city centre

Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, said the video showed a group using "racist" language hanging a St George's Cross flag outside the mosque.

"Our city is better than this, and we must stand together to say 'Not in our name, and not on our streets'," he added.

An increasing number of flags have been appearing across the country in recent weeks, dividing opinion.

One person on Dereham Road who did not wish to be named told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I'm not bothered by the flag itself, but I don't really like people climbing lampposts at night and chanting."

Another said: "There's no bad blood around around here. I don't feel intimidated by the flags."

An All Welcome sign appeared near the junction with Bowthorpe Road

But others criticised the actions of the group and said the flags appeared to be directed at people visiting the mosque for evening prayers.

"There was an awful lot of noise and police came," said Will, who lives nearby.

"It seemed like [the group] were trying to antagonise people inside the mosque.

"We never have any trouble here. The only commotion I have known was last night."

Liam Calvert, an independent member for Wensum on Norwich City Council, said: "People are telling me they feel this is intended to intimidate their friends and neighbours.

"It has been amazing to see the community rally around the local residents they love."

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "Officers attended and found no offences had been committed."