After a long wait Òcivic prideÓ will be restored to Petersfield in the shape of the Union Jack, flying proud above the town hall.

Following the shock announcement that bunting will no longer bedeck the town on civic occasions, the news that the flag of the Union will once again fly from the town hall will come as a great relief to citizens.

Such is the public clamour for the ÒJackÓ, that the last two Union flags have been stolen.

Petersfield town councillor John Crowhurst has been pushing for the Petersfield flag to be flown, depicting the town crest set in the Hampshire rose, but the present Petersfield flag is deficient in the flight department.

Attempts to fly the flag in the past have met with only limited success.

Bob Ayer made an appeal to the finance and general purposes committee on the grounds of design.

ÒIf we are going to get one please can it fly?Ó he pleaded at a meeting of the committee on Thursday of last week.

But Brian Keefe pointed out that the public was not crying out for this particular design.

ÒI do not see the people in the street demanding a Petersfield flag. There is no demand for it,Ó he said.

Councillors agreed that the ÒJackÓ was the best option, and will now have to run the risk of further petty pilfering.