Flag fever is gripping the nation as England edge their way forward in the World Cup -- but few can wave the standard of St George better than the Bystander pub in Wootton, near Abingdon.

The Bystander pub in Wootton

Two huge flags, each measuring 35ft wide by 23ft tall, adorn the pub. One is fixed to the roof and the other covers one side of the pub.

The pub's staff believe the flag must rank as one of the biggest examples of English patriotism in Oxfordshire, if not the whole country.

Pub manager Tim Westerman said: "We wanted to make a big statement to show people our support for England and the World Cup. "We're showing all the England games and the huge flags have attracted a lot of interest."

The flags are made of sheets and cost £192. The pub bought 16 double white sheets and 14 single red sheets.

It took staff Amie Stewart and James Woodbridge a week to cut the sheets up and sew them together.

It took a team of builders who are pub regulars four hours to fix the flags to the roof and the front of the pub, using concrete blocks and battens.

Mr Westerman said: "A lot of hard work and enthusiasm has gone into our flags. Now we hope our footballers can match us on the pitch and go on to win the World Cup. If they do, the flags will stay up as long as they last."