UP went the Union flag on Burnley and Padiham town halls today. It's a victory for campaigners -- led by soldier's mum Marion Smith -- who wanted the flag flown in support of our troops in Iraq.

And it marks a U-turn by Labour-led Burnley Council which last week turned down the request and also refused permission for it to be hoisted on the town hall at Padiham, despite councillors there being unanimously in favour.

This change of heart is welcome -- it shows the council is prepared to listen.

It shows, too, that its initial citing of government guidelines on occasions for flying the flag on public buildings was a red herring. For proof that there really are no restraints comes from the disclosure today that neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen Council flies the Union flag on its town halls every day of the year except St George's Day, when the English flag is hoisted instead.

Burnley Council leader Stuart Caddy, tells us it's an issue he has been considering for some time, along with the suggestion of the town having its own borough flag -- which, we think, is a good idea for civic pride and promoting Burnley's identity.

And was there something else he was considering as this U-turn emerged -- perhaps the fact that it's the council elections in a fortnight?