On the day Britain left Europe, people in Thanet marked the moment with a number of flag displays - but in one case this was mysteriously hampered.

Plans to raise the EU flag in Birchington on the day of Brexit, followed by the Union flag on Saturday, were hindered when the ropes used to hoist it up disappeared.

The parish council, with the help of the Royal British Legion, eventually got the EU flag hoisted by 4pm in The Square on Friday, but by the time the flag master returned to take it down at 6pm, it had been cut down already, with just the remains left behind.

Cllr Max Houghton says the plan was to hoist the EU flag on the day Britain left Europe, January 31, then replace it with the Union flag the following day until 6pm to symbolise the start of a new era.

"Either someone wanted some rope or someone had the hump about the EU flag," he said.

"Luckily the British Legion in Birchington helped and some rope was donated and we managed to get it up.

"It meant a lot of rushing around to try to sort it out. It's disappointing."

'The whole idea was to raise the EU flag then replace it with the Union flag to mark a new era for our country' - Cllr Max Houghton

Speaking ahead of the Union flag being raised, he said he hoped no-one would try to hamper the hoisting on Saturday.

"The whole idea was to raise the EU flag then replace it with the Union flag to mark a new era for our country," he said.

"Some sad person made this harder for us."

In Ramsgate, a huge message which read 'We still love EU' was projected onto the cliffs by the Lib Dems.

Antony Hook, former MEP for the south east, says it is important to send a message of solidarity to friends in Europe.

"Despite what people might see on the news, Britain is still an outward-looking nation that values our close relationship with our nearest neighbours," he said.

"It is also a message to the three million EU citizens living in the UK for whom this is a very unsettling time.

"We want you to know that you will always be welcome here. We appreciate you, and we want you to stay.

"Whether you voted leave or remain, it is vital for all of us that we preserve the closest possible ties with Europe."

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