Man forced to take down 'racist' Confederate flag from Cheltenham home

'I didn’t realise it was racist or anything like that,' says 71-year-old John Bryant

The American Confederate flag which was seen flying in Cheltenham (SWNS)

A country and western music fan was forced to take down a Confederate flag flying over his house following allegations of racism.

John Bryant flew the controversial flag over his semi-detached home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

The 71-year-old said he put it up only because he enjoyed country and western music, and that he knew nothing about its controversial nature.

He has since taken down the flag and says he will not display it again.

Mr Bryant said: “To be honest, I didn’t realise it was racist or anything like that. I just put it up as a flag.

‘’We’re a member of the country and western club at Notgrove in the Cotswolds.

“They use all sorts of flags, this kind and others, up there for table cloths.

“I said to one of the members that I would like a flag. He got me one and I put it up.”

He insisted he was not aware that some people regarded the flag as racist and he said he was sorry if he had offended anyone.

The blue-and-red flag, featuring white stars within a cross, is hugely controversial in the US.

For some, the civil-war-era banner is a symbol of states’ rights and Southern heritage, and to others it represents treason, slavery and white supremacy.

It is often displayed by avowed racists in the US, including at the Charlottesville riots in 2017.

One of Mr Bryant's neighbours, who asked not to be named, said: “Maybe he should stick to flying a flag of Dolly Parton instead.”