Ref. 28055SWINDON Council has broken with protocol and is flying the flag of St George to celebrate England's rugby world cup victory.

For the first time in living memory the authority has hoisted up the flag to commemorate something other than an official state occasion.

At the request of its rugby-mad leader, Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns), who thinks the town should shout from the rooftops the fact England are world champions at last, the flag was this week hoisted atop the Civic Offices in Euclid Street, where it will now fly indefinitely.

Coun Bawden, who was at the Telstra Stadium, in Sydney, with his wife to watch England's historic win over Australia last week, said: "England have just won the Rugby World Cup and we should be proud of the fact I'm simply saying we should be proud of what happened and show it.

"This was my idea and I'm extremely proud to be English. The final was something I will never forget not since 1966 have we had something like this to celebrate so it's been a very long time coming.

"The final was an unbelievable experience. The supporters mingled with each other, there was no hint of trouble and to cap it all we brought the Webb Ellis Trophy home it was perfect."

He said the flag will fly on the roof of the Civic Offices until England next lose a match, which could be some time yet.

Unfortunately for Coun Bawden, who is originally from Penzance, in Cornwall, the more mundane task of trying to keep next year's council tax rise as low as possible now fully occupies his attention.

A season ticket holder at Bath Rugby Club, he said he used to be a useful player at centre or on the wing.

Swindon Mayor Derek Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) added: "There is a set protocol for flying flags and I don't think this is in it, but rules are there to be bent. This is the first time this has happened in my memory.

"But anything that gives the country a boost has got to be good and if this is our way of showing it I'm all for it."

Giles Sheldrick