A PAINT job at a Bury pub which obliterated a giant "flag" of St George has caused an uprising among regulars.

The patriotic symbol, which took up a whole gable end wall at the Derby Arms in Bolton Road, was removed by order of brewery chiefs.

It has left punters foaming at the mouth, and prompted a petition which has so far raised 300 names.

Anger spilled over as a workman put the finishing touches to paintwork at the pub and was hit by a volley of eggs from a passing vehicle.

Blackburn-based Daniel Thwaites have been trying to have the flag erased since 1998, when it was emblazoned onto the wall for England's France '98 World Cup campaign.

Soccer-mad fomer landlord Barry Evans defied bosses by leaving it there.

But following a change of tenancy the painters were called in, sparking the outcry from drinkers.

One anonymous telephone call to the pub was peppered with abusive language and demanded that the flag be reinstated. Eggs were also thrown at the car of new landlady Susan Rathmill.

Staff at the pub are upset and say the decision was not taken by them.

Manageress Amanda Campbell (28) said: "I felt so sorry for the painter because it wasn't his fault. He was on a ladder at the time and those eggs could have really hurt him.

"I think that we should be allowed to keep the flag. It wasn't doing any harm and we have had people saying that they won't be coming in until it is put back.

"People must think that we could have stopped the painters, but they were working for the brewery who told them the cross had to come off. It's not fair to blame us."

Regular Jason Green, from Tottington, said: "I have a carpet business nearby and the cross was great for giving people directions. We could do with getting it back because it made the pub look a lot better and there was nothing wrong with it."

A spokesman for the brewery said: "The cross was painted on the wall by the previous tenants without brewery approval.

"It did not fit into the decorating programme as part of a refurbishment, and it is brewery policy to follow a standard style and colouring plan."