Contractor paid more than £7,000 to remove flags in Aberdeen

A contractor was paid more than £7,000 to remove about 100 flags illegally attached to lampposts in Aberdeen, according documents released under Freedom of Information (FOI) rules.

Aberdeen City Council (ACC) appointed the contractor after local authority staff faced verbal abuse while taking flags down in the city last year.

In November, council workers were verbally threatened in Kincorth while removing flags from lampposts to make way for Christmas lights.

An FOI request made by BBC Scotland News found the company, which has not been named, was paid £7,349 to carry out the work in the Cove, Kincorth and Seaton areas.

Flags - including saltires - were put up in towns and cities across Scotland last year after a social media campaign by a group behind anti-asylum protests.

It followed similar scenes in England, where Union and St George's flags were hung on lampposts and painted on traffic islands.

Flying flags from lampposts is banned under the terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

ACC said the incidents of abuse in November raised serious concerns for the safety of workers.

The FOI request also revealed the work to remove the flags was carried out and completed on 3 and 4 March.

The council's response excluded the name of the company which undertook the work.

ACC said: "Disclosing the name of the business would enable any individuals who are opposed to the removal of the flags to target or cause damage to that business and their staff.

"The safety and welfare of the business and its employees is a key consideration, and releasing the name could increase the risk of threats, vandalism, or other criminal actions directed towards them."

In September last year, Aberdeenshire Council suspended the removal of flags from lampposts after workers faced similar threats and intimidation in Peterhead.