A TAXI driver has hit out after he was told to remove an England badge from his car, claiming his bosses labelled it “offensive”.

Gary Hannigan, a private hire driver for Six Five Nine cars in York, had a small shield-shaped magnetic England badge, bearing the three lions, on the rear of his car to show his support for the national football team.

But he said that in a recent taxi inspection crackdown by City of York Council and police, he was told the badge was “offensive” and told to remove it.

He said: “I totally agree with the need to inspect taxis, but this is a badge only 2in to 3in square and I really don’t see why it’s offensive to have an England badge on my taxi.”

“The inspector said that we had been allowed to display England flags when the [World Cup] football was on but that’s all finished now. But that’s not the case because they are still playing games to qualify for the next competition.”

Mr Hannigan, who has now stuck the magnet to his fridge, said: “I’ve had it on for ten months and no one’s said anything to me about being offended.

“I’ve been racking my brains trying to think why it’s offensive. Everyone I speak to says it’s ridiculous. I live in England, I’m not a racist person but I want to support my country at football. It’s like my lucky charm.”

Wayne Casey, administration officer of the National Taxi Association, described the issue as “petty” and said the National Taxi Association did not have guidelines preventing England badges.

He said: “That’s down to the local authorities. Drivers normally have to get permission, however not as many councils are as petty as that.”

Mr Casey said he had his own England badge on his car and added: “They are pretty inoffensive. How can it be offensive in England to have an England badge on it?

“I know there are rules, but this one is completely idiotic in my view.”

John Lacy, the council’s licensing manager, said the general crackdown on substandard taxis had been successful.

He said: “A licensing officer politely reminded one driver of our licensing policy in relation to advertisement on the external body work and asked the driver to remove a small magnetic England badge from the body work.”

He said during World Cups and European Championships, the authority had a more relaxed attitude to displays of England items.

Council workers in York were banned from flying England flags from their vehicles or placing stickers on the side of vans and trucks during the World Cup this summer. The authority claimed they could present a “safety hazard” and create a “litter problem”.

Michael Brunskill, of the Football Supporters Federation, said: “I can’t see who this would be offensive to, especially if nobody has complained about it.

“It just seems to be a sad state of affairs because there is nothing wrong with getting behind your nation’s football team, and I can’t imagine many other countries taking this line.”