I AM sure that people in other countries would find it odd that soldier's mother Marion Smith had actually to ask for the British flag to be flown at Padiham Town Hall to show support for our troops in Iraq.

I am also certain they would find it equally bizarre that her request necessitated a debate by the town council and the trotting out of guidelines circulated by the government as to when the Union flag might be hoisted on public buildings.

But, really, although Mrs Smith's request is cogent with her being the mother of a son fighting in Iraq, the fact that we are at war there is basically irrelevant to the issue -- when a country with any pride in itself should, surely, consider that there is only one occasion when the flag should be flown.

And that is, all the time -- in peace and war.