A teenager has been ordered to remove a collection of flags from his garden because they are too high.

Liam Kenward, 14, has amassed more than 200 pennants over a period of 10 years, bringing home a flag from every holiday and various antiques fairs.

The passionate youngster displayed just five flags at a time which he rotated regularly at his home in Waldron Drive, Loose.

His mum Tracey Kenward, 50, said her son was “devastated” to receive a letter saying he can no longer keep his two 20ft flagpoles.

Maidstone Borough Council said Liam can have one flagpole just over 9ft tall - which will be barely visible above the property’s hedge.

The schoolboy said: “My flags are my passion and I’m really disappointed that I have to take them down.

“We’ve been living here for two years and I always thought everyone liked them.”

Mum Tracey, who runs her own gardening business, said neighbours and school children enjoyed the display.

"We’ve been living here for two years and I always thought everyone liked them..." - Liam Kenward

She said: “He’s completely gutted. It’s his passion and he’s been working on it for a decade now.

“What’s sad is he isn’t a malicious or badly behaved teenager vandalising anything. He’s a smart boy who uses his passion to find out about the world.

“We have never displayed any offensive flag and Liam is keen to put up flags of every nationality.

“If a football game is on he puts up the flags of the two countries playing and so sometimes he changes them every hour.

“If the Union Jack is at half mast he will put it at half mast. It helps him keep up with current affairs.

“He then teaches the school kids walking past about them which is a really good thing.

“I wish the person who complained would have just knocked on the door so we could discuss it with them, rather than complaining to the council.”

The council said it investigated after receiving a complaint.

A spokesman said: “Legislation in England allows two flags to be flown in the grounds of a building (subject to certain conditions) without planning permission, but if a resident would like to fly more flags at their property, they need to apply for planning permission.”

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