HALF mast or flying high -- how you hoist your flag whether it's to support England or to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee -- can reveal a lot.

The Union Flag is its correct name, according to Lieutenant Mike Glover at Fulwood Barracks Army Museum. "I think the name Union Jack originated from the flag pole it was hoisted up -- the navy probably had a nick-name for it," said Lieutenant Glover.

A walk around Preston and South Ribble would also have many sailors coming to the rescue of damsels in distress -- when raising the Union Flag it is 'broad stripe uppermost' according to Lt Glover, which means the thick white line should be going up to the staff. The other way was a secret tactic used by the merchant navy to tell allies they were in distress.

With the World Cup and the Queen's Golden Jubilee in full swing next week -- which flag will you be waving?

Liquid Plastics, Miller Street, Preston, will deck out the canteen area with the St George's Cross as they cheer England in the games against Sweden and Argentina.

"We do actually have a Union Flag outside the building which is there all the time, so in effect we are supporting both queen and country," said a spokesman for the company, who checked it was the right way up.

Linda Roach, landlady of The Eagle and Child Hotel, Leyland, will be attending court this morning (Thursday) to find out if she can be granted a special licence to open early in time for those all important games. "I would love to be able to serve breakfast and watch the World Cup, we have a real mixture of flags here, it's very international with the mini football shirts, Union Jacks, and England flags on display," she said.