UVF removes its flags from estate

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By Jason Boyd BBC News Website

The Ulster Volunteer Force has removed its flags from a County Down housing estate.

Community representatives and police have welcomed the move

The move is being viewed in line with the UVF's commitment last month to "assume a non-military, civilianised, role".

Gary McCready, a community representative in the West Winds estate in Newtownards, said it was a step in the right direction.

"We decided within the estate to try and move forward, get the estate improved, and move away from the name that it had received," he said.

"They've flown there for years and the police have always wanted them down.

"People have complained about them, but they've never been taken down.

"They've always been left to fly, but this year after talking to the loyalists and speaking to the community we've got them down."

At the moment, the UVF has said it will remove the flags from the West Winds estate only, but the organisation has indicated that other community workers could follow their lead.

Newtownards police have welcomed the move.

Constable David Selby said it could "only be viewed as a positive move within the community".

"It's an example of community policing at its finest - working with the various agencies and the community representatives - for the betterment of the West Winds estate," he said.