WILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: FOOTBALL fever has been dampened at a Wiltshire water firm after bosses banned staff from displaying England flags on company vans.

Managers at Wessex Water sent a memo to regional managers yesterday morning, barring patriotic employees from displaying St George's Cross flags on any company vehicle.

Their decision comes just three days before the England team kicks off against France as they bid to become Euro 2004 champions in Portugal.

The Malaysian-owned company, which has bases in Trowbridge and Chippenham, has used health and safety reasons to justify their decision to ban the flags.

One employee said the policy had not gone down well with staff, who wanted to back Beckham's brigade during this year's championships.

A company spokesman said the firm had taken advice from the AA.

"It is not that we don't want drivers to support England. It is purely a health and safety angle," she said.

"There is a strong concern that they could cause accidents by flying onto vans or cars behind."

Police have already issued warnings to drivers about displaying flags safely.

Patriotic motorists could be fined £2,500 and handed three penalty points if flags are obscuring their vision.