Father loses job after being 'snitched on' for raising Union Jacks in his hometown

The former teaching assistant said he estimates he'd helped put up around 150 flags across the small town.

He added that his "decorations" received a host of compliments from locals.

Mr Remmer said neighbours have stopped him in the street to shake his hand and thank him for putting up the flags.

But the 49-year-old said some took offence to his gesture and reported him to his place of work, leading to him losing his job.

The ex-supply teacher said: "I have not hidden myself or wore a mask, so everyone knows it is me putting up the flags.

"I get people coming up to me in the supermarket telling me that it looks amazing.

"I have been putting up the flag of Ulster, which was stopped being in use from 1973.

"I also put Scottish, Irish and Welsh flags too. It has brought people together."

Mr Remmer has alleged that he was told by the school not to return to work after it caught wind of what he had been doing.

He said: "I got a phone call from my agency telling me that a trust I used to work at, but don't any more, said they received a complaint about me putting flags up in Thirsk.

"The school had then spoke to the trustees and then rang my agency to tell them that they no longer want me to work at either of their schools. It was really odd.

"A week later, I arrive back home from Welburn Hall in York after having a good day and someone found out about the flags and spoke to the headmistress.

"The headmistress then saw that I posted about problems we have in the country (on social media) such as young girls getting raped.

"The post was all about children - as that is who I am trying to protect."

The 49-year-old claimed the agency inferred that he was a racist and has since been turned away from working for a different one, who told him there were "safeguarding issues".

North Yorkshire Council wrote to the former supply teacher to instruct him to halt the flag-hoisting due to health and safety issues, adding that he will be charged for their removal if he persists.

The council's director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: "We are proud to support big national and regional occasions by flying a St George's Cross or Union Flag.

"However, we are aware of some residents across North Yorkshire feeling uncomfortable with the numbers of flags as well as graffiti.

"This does not reflect the inclusive and celebratory tone in which displaying the flags should be intended. We have also seen numerous examples of people putting themselves at risk to display flags on highways, bridges and lampposts.

"We respect individuals' rights to fly and paint flags on their own private property, but any unauthorised flags or markings on roundabouts and street furniture will be removed when resources allow, focusing on those which are a safety issue."

Wellburn Hall School's headteacher Marianne Best said: "Mr Shaun Remmer worked at the school on a temporary basis as a supply teaching assistant via an education recruitment agency."