A council has denied a Union Flag was taken down because of a complaint that it was too patriotic.

The flag, installed on The Leas at Minster, was removed last week by Swale council and replaced by one for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

But the move enraged residents, many of whom discovered the switch while walking their dogs.

Among them was Richard Darby, Swale council’s Ukip councillor for Queenborough and Halfway, who lives near the seafront.

He said: “I was walking my dog and was bombarded by about 20 people asking what had happened to the Union Jack.

“I called the council and was told there had been a complaint from a resident who lives on The Leas who said he didn’t want to see it because it was too patriotic.

“I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life.

“It’s our national flag for goodness sake. I’m told the Minster flag has been moved to the Sheppey Gateway in Sheerness but I can’t see why we can’t have two.

But a spokesman for Swale council denied it had been taken down because of a complaint.

"Over winter, an RNLI flag was put up in its place but this was damaged and was replaced with a Union Flag until a replacement RNLI one could be found" - Swale council spokesman

He said: “This pole is used through the main season to fly the Blue Flag to show the beach is one of the best in the country. Over winter, an RNLI flag was put up in its place but this was damaged and was replaced with a Union Flag until a replacement RNLI one could be found.

“This particular Union Flag is currently flying in Sheerness. We are hoping to get a new one to fly on the second flagpole currently used by The Sweet Hut.”

Cllr Darby added: “If you go to Spain virtually every building flies the Spanish flag.

"We should put our flag back up.”