Signs of kindness along road in place of flags

Hand-painted signs have appeared in place of St George's flags

Signs bearing messages such as "we are kind" and "we are welcoming" have appeared along a busy road in Nottingham.

About 10 of the hand-painted boards have been hung on lamp-posts lining a 160m-long stretch of Mansfield Road near the Forest Recreation Ground.

Until recently the same stretch of lamp-posts had St George's flags flying, which were removed on Tuesday.

It is unclear who took the flags down and whether the signs were hung up by the same people who removed them.

Mehmet Dalgic, who lives locally, prefers the painted boards with kind messages to the flags

Residents have welcomed the appearance of the mystery signs.

Taxi driver Mehmet Dalgic, 54, who moved to the UK from Turkey 35 years ago, said: "I think it's brilliant. For me, it's a relief, it's just nice."

The flag movement gathered pace on social media, with the name Operation Raise the Colours, with those behind it saying they were motivated by pride and patriotism.

Others have expressed discomfort due to tensions running high across England over immigration and the St George's Cross often being used to promote far-right groups.

Mark Callan said the signs were a "great transformation"

Healthcare worker Mark Callan, 51, thinks the signs are an improvement to the area.

"I think it's really good. It's a great transformation to what was there before. I was glad the flags were taken down. I felt a bit intimidated by the flags," he said.

"It's positive, it's hopeful."

Mr Callan, who is from Northern Ireland and has lived in England for six years, said: "Growing up where I grew up, flags are used in a very deliberate manner, they put out a certain type of message to people where you're not welcome, you don't belong, and keep out."

Some of the signs are pinned to a metal fence, which runs along the recreation ground, and are accompanied by red cardboard hearts.

Filmmaker Charles Evans, 28, of Nottingham, saw the signs being put up.

He said: "I think it's fantastic; spreading positive messages is always going to be a good thing regardless of how you feel. I think we are [kind], I think Nottingham is kind and welcoming.

"I think it would have been nice alongside the flags as well, to sort of say 'we're proud of this country because we're kind and because we're welcoming'."

Porsche said the signs made her smile

Porsche, who moved to the UK from South Africa when she was 17, said: "When I first came to England, that's exactly how I felt. I was escaping apartheid and I felt like that; like everyone was welcoming and really understanding.

"I like that it's positive, especially in this area. It's a main road and everybody sees them, so it's a positive thing. I smiled as soon as I saw the little hearts on the fence."

Gardener Jo Salter, 62, from Nottingham, said: "I think they are brilliant. We are kind, most of us, and we are welcoming.

"I think they are necessary as an antidote to what was up before. I was sad to see the flags up."

Nottingham City Council has said it will not be removing the signs from the lamp-posts.

A spokesperson added: "Our position is that much like we haven't removed the flags, we will not be removing these signs."