BURY Council has waved away suggestions it could ban the St George flag being flown from taxis during Euro 2004.

Some authorities in Greater Manchester had originally stated cabbies could lose their licence by flying the patriotic flag as a show of support for England in the tournament starting in Portugal this weekend.

But Bury Council officials said that, while it was policy for a taxi or private hire vehicle not to display flags or other "sorts of adornment", it was unlikely to take any action over the flying of small England flags.

A council spokesman explained: "We have a uniform policy on signage for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Flags, and other sorts of adornments, are not allowed within the policy although the main concern is to prevent anything offensive such as matters of a sexual nature.

"The general policy is not against any particular flag and certainly not the flag of St George. The council raised the flag of St George at Bury Town Hall on April 23 to mark St George's Day.

He added: "We have received no complaints and do not anticipate any, especially over the next few weeks as the nation, including the council, gets behind the England team."

The confusion came after Rochdale Council banned its cabbies from flying the flags earlier this week, only to lift the ban just days later.

Jim Litherland, the base operator at Bury Taxi rank, said: "A mountain is being made out of a molehill. The tournament is only going to last a few weeks and they don't create any harm as long as they do not obstruct the driver's view."