A Jubilee street party organiser has branded thieves callous after they stole his flag on the morning of the celebration.

Gerry Shea with the broken flagpole Gerry Shea, 55, of Bassett Avenue, Bicester, got up at 4am on Bank Holiday Monday to help set up Bassett Avenue's street party.

He said: "I went into my front garden and thought 'Something is wrong, something is missing'. I was standing next to my flag pole and noticed it had been broken.

"Then I realised my flag had gone."

Mr Shea, who is well known in the town for dressing up in a Union Jack costume and calling himself John Bull, has had the flag for about 15 years. He always flew it on memorial days, at national celebrations and times of mourning.

He said: "When Princess Diana died I hung it at half mast and again recently when the Queen Mother died. It has always been outside in the ground where people can get to it, but it's always been respected. "I don't know what makes people do these things, I think they are callous. The flag only cost a few pounds but it has sentimental value."

The flag was attached to an eight foot wooden pole, but Mr Shea, said the vandals broke the pole to get to the flag.

He added: "Somebody decided to steal it, I hope they are proud of themselves. They are taking away not just from me, but from everyone out there who enjoyed it.

"I did not let the loss of the flag spoil my day. I still enjoyed the day, but feel sad people can go and do that."

Mr Shea and his wife are planning to retire to Spain later this year and intend to fly the flag at their new home.