COUNCIL bosses have bowed to public pressure and decided to fly the Cross of St George on the “civic heart of the borough” during the World Cup.

The Times Series reported last week that Barnet Council was not going to display the English flag on the spare pole at Hendon Town Hall because staff had “greater priorities to deal with”.

Councillor Andrew Harper, deputy leader of the council, said “the only flag which should be flown at the building is the Union flag” and claimed it would not be possible to display the George Cross during these times of “tough economic pressures”.

But they have been forced to backtrack after Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron publicly announced he would be supporting the England team in South Africa by flying the flag above 10 Downing Street during the tournament.

Council bosses were also urged ahead of this summer's competition, which kicked off on Friday, to join communities in waving the flag “with pride”, by Local Government minister Grant Shapps.

He issued a statement to local authority leaders and chief executives saying: “The World Cup is a great opportunity for local communities of all backgrounds to pull together.

“Councils should do their bit in helping reclaim the English flag as a proud symbol of our nation's identity.”

The initial indication that they flag would not be flown next to the Union Flag on the building, in The Burroughs, was met with outcry by readers.

In a poll conducted by the Times Series, 78 per cent of people thought the council should fly the flag, with 14 per cent saying it should not, and eight per cent saying they did not follow football.

One comment on the Times-Series website, left by danhope, demanded: “The Conservative Group Councillors, if they have any spine, must start emailing around NOW and have this decision reversed.”

Ken4 asked: “How long does it take to run up the flag of St George that would affect the other imporant issues referred to?”

And reader Gin'll fix it added: “The way the council has treated Barnet FC over the years, it's quite clear that our councillors like to undermine our national game at any cost.”