A mosque in Stockport has shared a message of 'unity' after England flags appeared on lampposts in the surrounding area.

Several flags with the St George's cross have been put up around Higher Hillgate near the town centre, part of a movement across the nation known as 'operation raise the colours'.

It has led to people climbing up ladders to hang England flags or Union Jacks to tall objects like lampposts, attached in many cases with cable ties.

Stockport Islamic Centre is based a short walk away from Higher Hillgate, and the mosque has spoken out about the sight of the St George's cross flying in the area.

They declared they would proudly fly the flag in a display of togetherness.

England flags are being flown in the Higher Hillgate area of Stockport (Image - Sean Hansford)

Ghulam Abbas is caretaker at Stockport Islamic Centre and came to the UK from Pakistan more than 50 years ago.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "If they had a flag here I'd take it and put it inside [on display]. I've been here for 50 years in this country and I feel I belong to it, I have no issues with it.

"[Displaying the flag] is a message of unity bringing all the community together. There is division around, yes, but the flag has become a way of bringing people together."

England flags and Union Jacks have been spotted around Greater Manchester in recent weeks as a wave of patriotism has swept the region and country.

Numbers of flags were seen in the Pendleton area of Salford, and last week videos shared on social media showed men attaching UK and England flags around Piccadilly Gardens.

36-year-old Ejiro Chukwadi, who moved to the UK from Nigeria, said he didn't feel the flags were upsetting (Image - Declan Carey / LDRS)

Many of the flags hung around the region have been allowed to stay up unless they've posed a clear health and safety risk.

The movement has not been limited to lamposts either, with some roundabouts painted in the colours of the St George's cross.

On Higher Hillgate in Stockport, 36-year-old Ejiro Chukwadi moved to the UK from Nigeria last year to work as a labourer, and welcomed the sight of national flags flying.

He said: "I don't know the reason for it, but it's beautiful, and it's nice to be proud of your country.

"I don't see how it could be upsetting, in my country I would want to put my flag up too."

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