West Midlands Fire Service defends banning Black Country flag

A debate has erupted over the use of the Black Country flag - after West Midlands Fire Service sent a letter to all staff banning them from flying it as part of celebrations for Black Country Day.

The flag was designed by a 12-year-old girl from Stourbridge, and honours both the region's glass-making and metal-working heritage.

However, campaigner Patrick Vernon, who's from Wolverhampton, says the use of chains is insensitive - as chains made in the Black Country were used in the slave trade.

Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb argues against the flag being banned and she believes this is "political correctness gone mad."

The Fire Service's chief fire officer Phil Loach said that having been made aware of the claims about the flag's imagery, he'd asked staff to find alternative ways to celebrate Black Country Day while they got a 'fully rounded view'.

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