Bar’s German flag torn down and burned

Officers from North Yorkshire Police are looking into the possibility that the flag was taken down by a gang of youths who were unhappy with it being so close to a war memorial in Malton. The flag was being flown outside a recently opened German bar run by a couple originally from Leverkusen, Dagmar and Günter Schwark, at the Mount Hotel in Yorkersgate.

Mrs Schwark said: “We have lovely customers and we have been made so welcome in Malton – this incident is so upsetting.”

The flag was removed by the four youths in pouring rain on Saturday night. One of them was seen on closed circuit television waving the blazing flag. Another German national flag had gone missing from outside the bar earlier this month.

Mr and Mrs Schwark will now fly the blue and white Bavarian flag from southern Germany outside their bar.