Reform UK-led Nottinghamshire County Council has said it is “extremely disappointed” after vandals targeted one of its Union flag banners.

The damaged flag, in Newark, has now been replaced.

A £75,000 project was launched in December with 164 Union flags adorned across the county.

Council leader Mick Barton said the flags could “strengthen community spirit” but one opposition leader said they were “divisive”.

“Work will be taking place to replace a banner which was recently vandalised on Farndon Road in Newark”, the authority said.

“We are extremely disappointed that someone would desecrate a banner depicting our national flag.

“Where we can identify those responsible, we will report these sorts of incidents to the police as acts of criminal damage.”

The damage was not reported to the police.

The project’s cost was criticised by Labour and Conservative politicians who called the spending of taxpayers’ money on the project “ridiculous”.

Each banner costs about £457, including brackets, traffic management and cherry pickers.

Mr Barton said they would be reused throughout the year for events such as Armistice Day, Christmas and Easter.

It was revealed this week that a Liberal Democrat-led county council had spent almost £15,000 on removing over 300 flags.

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Oxfordshire County Council undertook the arduous task of removing 332 flags at a cost of £14,800 as of December 22, 2025, according to the leader of the country’s Conservative group Liam Walker.

Mr Walker, the Tory Councillor for the Hanborough & Hailey ward, said he received an email from the council revealing the staggering cost.

Flags were raised across Oxfordshire over the summer as part of the wider Raise the Colours movement.

A spokesman from Oxfordshire County Council said: “As a council, we proudly fly both the Union Jack and St George’s flags. We also welcome residents displaying flags on their own property.

“However, placing flags or painting them on or near highways can create serious safety hazards. These include reduced visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and increased risk of distraction.

The spokesman continued, saying they would be “stepping up” the removal of flags, adding: “In addition, installing flags on street furniture or near roads can lead to personal injury or property damage. For these reasons, we strongly advise people against doing so.

“To keep everyone safe, our teams have been removing flags and other unauthorised attachments from streetlights during routine maintenance or where they pose an immediate risk.

“Each case will be assessed based on the level of risk, with priority given to those that pose an immediate risk.

“Our overarching priority is to keep our roads and public spaces safe for everyone.”