A PUB landlord who feared he would be forced to take down a pirate flag in his beer garden after a complaint has now been told it is safe.

Vito Logozzi, of the Goodmanham Arms, Goodmanham, was stunned when a member of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said they would investigate a complaint into a Jolly Roger that he had been flying for more than a year.

Vito refused to take it down and said regulars of the pub were even prepared to raise money to take the council to court if attempts were made to take it down.

Vito said: “It’s so unfair on the kids. They love dressing up and playing on the pirate ship in the summer. It just would not be the same without the flag.”

He was told the flag breached planning regulations and that to fly any flag in view of the public, that is not a national flag, needed planning permission.

But the council told him that after an investigation, no further action would be taken as it was not appropriate to ask him to take it down.

“I’m very pleased that they have decided to let me keep it up. I’ve never broken a law in my life but I was prepared to fight this all the way,” he said.