A British fireman is set to be prosecuted after he flew a skull and crossbones flag outside his home for his daughter's pirate-themed birthday party.
David Waterman, 41, faces legal action for refusing to remove the Jolly Roger flag he hoisted to celebrate his girl's eighth birthday after a neighbour complained.
Under current UK laws, any flag flying outside a residential property has to have planning permission unless it is a national flag.
Waterman said: "It's a £5 flag, not hurting anyone, and they're probably spending hundreds of pounds of our cash getting me to take it down.
"That could be spent on improving the local area - it's disgraceful." A spokesman for his local council said: "We received a complaint about the flag flying outside Mr. Waterman's house and are duty-bound to investigate."