POLICE are investigating after a Minehead pensioner’s flagpole flying EU and Ukraine flags was chopped down in her front garden.

Retired teacher and social worker Margaret Bradshaw only moved to the town about six months ago from South Devon to be closer to her daughter.

Mrs Bradshaw said: “I do not know if it is kids, or somebody making a political statement, but it is clearly criminal damage.

“It will have to go up again.

“I am not putting up with this.”

Mrs Bradshaw said the flagpole, on which she also flies a Canadian flag because she has family there, was put up three to four months ago.

She said it was concreted into the ground which would have made it difficult for the vandals to bring it down.

The damage was caused overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday (April 14-15).

However, Mrs Bradshaw said the flagpole of a neighbour in Bircham Road who regularly flew the Union flag and the Cross of St George, was untouched.

Mrs Bradshaw said CCTV security cameras were being installed in her home and they would be working by the time the flagpole was put back in place, allowing her to record images if anybody returned to cause damage to it again.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said it was called on the morning of Wednesday, April 15, with a report of the flagpole coming down overnight and it was believed it had been deliberately damaged.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers visited the address in Minehead and spoke to the informant about the incident.

“The cause of the damage remains unknown.

“Witnesses can share information with us online, or by calling 101, quoting the reference number 5226102617.”

The Free Press reported earlier in the year on the issue of gangs of ‘feral’ youths causing trouble in Minehead, Watchet, and Williton.