'The council are being real killjoys', said one disgruntled resident

Residents of a Cheshire street have been ordered to rip down St George's Cross bunting by the local Labour-run council ahead of the nation's World Cup quarter-final, citing a "danger" to drivers.

Church Road in Northwich has been decorated with St George's flags strung between homes, lampposts and trees as neighbours show their support for England during the tournament.

In spite of the patriotic display of national pride, Cheshire West and Chester Council has written to homeowners warning that the unauthorised installation of flags on highway infrastructure is unlawful and could constitute anti-social behaviour.

The authority has also asked residents to identify those responsible for putting up the low-hanging bunting, citing concerns over public safety and a "clear danger" to drivers.

The move has seen a backlash from locals living on the street, who insist the display has brought the neighbourhood together and should remain in place for the remainder of the World Cup.

Beautician Emily Disley-Joyson, 26, described the council's intervention as "madness", saying residents simply wanted to support the national team.

"The council are being real killjoys," she told the Daily Mail. "The World Cup brings everyone together."

Scaffolder Ian Lee, 27, questioned the council's priorities, arguing officials ought to have more important matters to focus on than the flags – which he said "make everyone happy".

Activity worker Maxine Simeone, 51, said the display had attracted visitors and created a positive atmosphere within the community.

"We've had people come down with their kids to look at them and everyone is saying how nice they look," she said, "we're just being patriotic.

"The World Cup creates such a great atmosphere and brings everyone together."

She added that residents had no intention of identifying those responsible for erecting the banners: "No one is going to tell the council who put them up."

Retired nurse Ruth Patterson, 69, who has also decorated her own home, said the flags had become a source of local pride.

"It looks amazing," she said. "We're all getting behind Harry Kane and the lads apart from our council."

In its letter, the Labour-led minority council referenced legislation, including the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Highways Act 1980, as the reason for their stance.

While acknowledging that the St George's flag is "an important symbol of national identity, unity and respect", the council said attaching flags to streetlights, road signs and other highway infrastructure was prohibited.

A council spokesman said the banners posed avoidable risks to motorists and pedestrians, adding that there had already been incidents elsewhere in Cheshire where flags had fallen onto vehicles or obscured road signs.

Church Street is far from the only street in Britain plagued by local regulation preventing patriotic displays.

Several councils across the country have issued similar warnings in recent years, allowing residents to fly the St George's Cross from their homes and vehicles while discouraging or prohibiting flags being attached to public property on safety grounds.

Despite the warning, Church Road residents say the decorations will remain in place for as long as England's World Cup campaign continues.