THE NEW Angus flag has been left the only one flying on the City Hall in Brechin after high winds yesterday brought down the Saltire.

It was found crumpled in the gutter and taken in by a businessman for safekeeping, but its broken flagpole, possibly in a message to the local authority, was taken off by somebody almost as quickly as it hit the ground.

A council spokeswoman said a man had been dispatched to investigate.

Almost immediately the Angus Alliance administration announced plans to unfurl a new flag for the county—originally intended to replace the national flag—a campaign to save the Saltire was mounted.

In a compromise move the council was forced to erect extra flagpoles on the main council buildings at an extra £5000 cost so the new flag could fly alongside the Saltire.

A council spokeswoman was unable to say whether it was one of the new flagpoles that had fallen.

“Somebody from our maintenance division has been to Brechin to inspect the damage,” she said.

“I have no more details.”