Market Drayton army veteran displays union jack on his taxi again

Basil Brockhurst now wants to put a remembrance poppy on his back window

An army veteran has been able to display the union jack on his taxi once again.

Basil Brockhurst, of Market Drayton, complained to Shropshire Council over the ban and an amendment was passed this month.

The council's revised regulations now permit one union jack, no bigger than A4 in size, on a vehicle's bonnet.

"The priority now is to get the [remembrance] poppy put back on the back window," Mr Brockhurst said.

"I'm pleased, but now I want to know why I am being penalised to the size of the image of the union flag," he said.

Mr Brockhurst, who left the forces in 2014, joined the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1975 and did three tours of Northern Ireland, before joining the Territorial Army in 1994 and serving in Iraq.

Mr Brockhurst said customers have been congratulating him on getting the flag back

He has been supported in his fight by his MP, Helen Morgan, and his councillor, Ian Nellins.

"I was never aware of anybody who was offended by any of his flags, so when it was raised I did bring the amendment to the council to ask for something to be done," Mr Nellins said.

Mr Nellins said the ruling had "struck somewhere halfway",but he said Mr Brockhurst had to accept "we are a rules-based society, we have to have some form of control".

Mr Brockhurst, who wanted to show he is a "proud Shropshire man" with his flag, said customers have been congratulating him.