A villager has slammed Oxfordshire “skinheads” as Union and England flags were raised in her area.

The flags were put up in both Bampton-in-the-Bush and Clanfield last Sunday, February 1, and has provoked a furious reaction from residents.

Susan Allen who lives in Bampton-in-the-Bush posted in a public village Facebook group on the same evening as the flags were put up.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire group behind Union Flags will ‘never surrender’

She said: “To the skinheads who arrived in our village with your entourage and your ladder to put up Union Flags, understand this: Union means together. United. One people, bound to each other.”

The hanging of flags on public roads has been a contentious issue since last summer, with supporters saying it is a show of patriotism while critics say it is unsafe, untidy and creates a hostile atmosphere.

In the past few weeks, flags have been raised in Oxford, Carterton, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney and other towns.

Flags have been raised across Carterton and Brize Norton (Image: Raise the Colours Oxford)

Ms Allen added that the Union flag beyond to everyone no matter their gender identity, skin colour, faith, sexual orientation or class.

She said: “So if you come to Bampton with populist rhetoric designed to divide, know this: our Britain is compassionate and inclusive and will always win over hate and division.

“We have far more in common than what separates us.

“We are a mixed, shared story—and we always have been and we always will. And we are all a richer nation for it.”

READ MORE: Oxfordshire staff wear balaclavas as England flags removed

Her comments provoked some debate online, garnering almost 2,000 reactions and 450 comments.

Those in support praised her sentiments, saying it was “eloquently put” and that the flags were cheap, potentially foreign-made and an eyesore.

Another added they were bringing “division” and asked those putting them up to “jog on”.

Flags in Saxton Road, Abingdon (Image: Alastair Fear)

However some were critical about the way she generalised “skinheads” and questioned why she was annoyed by the presence of the national flags in the village.

One person said those putting up the flags deserved “knighthoods for their selfless services to our communities”.

Recently it has been revealed that Oxfordshire County Council has spent around £15,000 on removing flags up to December 22, 2025.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire council spends £15K removing 330 Union flags

A spokesperson for the council said: “We proudly fly both the Union Jack and the St George’s flag from our buildings, and we welcome residents displaying flags on their own private property.

“However, we have also been clear that placing flags on or near highways can create serious safety hazards, and we will continue to take action to remove them during routine maintenance or where they pose an immediate danger to road users or pedestrians.”

In response, a leading member of Raise the Colours Oxfordshire – the group largely responsible for putting the flags up – said they would “not surrender”.