The Union Jack and the St George's Cross of England have been thrown back into the headlines in recent days after a local council was heavily criticised for removing English and British flags hanging from lampposts. But at a time when flags of our nation are being pulled down in public places, more and more people are pushing back and trying to find how they can show their patriotism at home without falling foul of judicious council workers.

Before the flag row broke, the Government said it had relaxed the rules on flying flags, not just the Union Jack, but also the flags of England, Wales, Ireland and indeed any national flag at all. Even the flags of the counties of Yorkshire are encouraged to be flown as part of the Government's list of flags it wants to be flown more widely. As an aside, the Union Jack is often called 'the Union Flag', but both names are acceptable nomenclature, even though the Jack has maritime heritage.

According to flag experts at The Flag Institute, a UK-based charity dedicated to vexillology (the study of flags) nationally and worldwide, there are some rules prospective flag flyers need to know.

It says that there is no official law governing the flying of the Union Jack, but that there are rules around how it should be displayed.

It says: "There is no Flag Act in UK law, and the Union Flag is the national flag by long-established custom and practice rather than by statute.

"The national flags of the United Kingdom (ie. the Union Flag and the flags of England, Scotland and Wales) should be displayed only in a dignified manner befitting the national emblems. They should not be displayed in a position inferior to any other flag or ensign.

"It is improper to use the national flags as a table or seat cover or as a masking for boxes, barriers, or the intervening space between a dais or platform and the floor. The use of any of the national flags to cover a statue, monument or plaque for an unveiling ceremony is discouraged.

"Flags may be flown on every day of the year. Government and local authority buildings in England, Scotland and Wales are encouraged to fly national flags every day of the year (the flying of flags at certain locations in Northern Ireland is constrained by The Flags Regulations [Northern Ireland] 2000 and Police Emblems and Flag Regulations [Northern Ireland] 2002).

"No permission is needed to fly the national flags and they are excluded from most planning and advertising regulations (but flagpoles may not be).

"National flags should never be flown in a worn or damaged condition, or when soiled. To do so is to show disrespect for the nations they represent."

It's also improper to fly the Union Jack upside down, a mistake many inadvertently make. Unlike many flags, which are totally symmetrical (like the St George's Cross), the Union Jack does have a right way up and an upside-down.

It adds: "Important: the Union Flag has a correct way up - in the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe, as Scotland's St Andrew's Cross takes precedence over Ireland's St Patrick's Cross. It is most improper to fly the flag upside down."

The local planning rules from the Government for flying a flag are very relaxed.

The rules for flying a flag on a roof are very relaxed. The Government says certain flags can be flown from rooftops of any size, as long as they meet certain conditions.

It says: "All flags must be:

• be maintained in a condition that does not impair the overall visual appearance of the site




• be kept in a safe condition




• have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land)




• not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport




• be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority

The full list of flags that do not require consent are:

The Government adds: "There are no restrictions on the size of flag."

However, if you're flying the flag from a pole protruding from any part of a building other than the roof, there are stricter rules. The Town and Country Planning Regulations 2007 set out that there are rules for a maximum size for flags flying on your house if it's on a pole, not on the roof.

The Government adds: "The flag may not exceed 2 square metres in size. No restrictions on the size of characters. Consent is required if the flagpole is in a controlled area."

Consent is required if you live in a controlled area, too, such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.