A former soldier has taken down England flags from lampposts claiming they are fuelling racist attacks.

Salman Mirza, together with other residents in Smethwick , climbed a ladder and removed the flags, which were washed and donated to charity shops.

The 58-year-old claimed there was a link between the proliferation of flags across the country and rise in racist abuse.

READ MORE : New display in Kingstanding Circle as flags pulled down in Harborne

Salman, who served three years in the British Army and now works with refugees, removed four flags around Bearwood earlier this month and received torrents of unprintable racist abuse, which he said he 'expected.'

He engaged with some of the trolls and they had agreed to disagree, he said.

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He said: "I don't think all the peop

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