Council banned from flying crest on Mayor's car after being flagged up as health and safety 'danger'

But that tradition could be in doubt after one mayor was banned from flying her town crest... because of health and safety.

Mayor of Maidstone Denise Joy has been told the flag - measuring just 8in by 5in - must be removed in case it falls off and poses a danger to other road users.

Maidstone mayor Denise Joy has been told to leave the flag at home as it 'could be a danger to other road users if it fell off'

At a council meeting this week, official Neil Harris insisted the flag, normally displayed on the roof above the windscreen, could be a 'health and safety risk'.

Mr Harris, the democratic services manager, said: 'The car needs to be recognised as the mayor's car. But the problem is the flag and insignia might fall off if the car goes above a certain speed. We are looking at solutions, but we must avoid any chance of damaging other cars and inconveniencing road users.'

Last night, residents and councillors called for the traditional mayoral flag to be spared.

Mike Fitzgerald, an Independent councillor, said: 'People recognise the car with the flag and now it could be any old car. Our first citizen should be recognised.'

Resident Rachel Totterington, 24, said: 'I really do not believe it. Do they imagine it might fall off and be run over by another car. There are enough pot-holes here to worry about - why worry about a little crest?'

The car for Mrs Joy, 53, a Liberal Democrat councillor, was switched from a Jaguar to a £40,000 hybrid Lexus this year to cut pollution.

She said: 'If the car is not instantly recognised, it may be directed to a wrong place which would be embarrassing.' Council executives admitted that there has never been a case of the mayoral crest falling off.

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