Guernsey's Grosse Rocque flag raised ahead of rough seas

Before 1986, when the island got its own flag, the Union Flag was flown

The Guernsey flag, which flies on Grosse Rocque at Cobo, has been replaced earlier than planned due to bad weather forecasts for Thursday.

A flag is traditionally raised on the rock on 9 May in a ceremony to mark the end of the island's liberation from occupation during World War II.

The flag was raised at 13:30 BST by fishermen, who said forecasted big swells would have made it difficult.

It is the third year in a row that the flag has not been raised on 9 May.

The tradition of raising a flag on the rock every August Bank Holiday pre-dates World War II.

Raising the flag after the Occupation - during which using boats for pleasure was banned - has a deeper significance for islanders.

Since 1948 the flag has been blessed in a simple service on the shore, during which the protection of sailors is asked for.

It is then rowed out to the rock and raised, as the previous year's flag is removed.

John Calloway, one of the fisherman who raised the flag, said it had been "pre-blessed" for just such an eventuality.

The shore ceremony is still due to go ahead at 10:00 BST on Thursday, when the 2014 flag will be blessed.