A couple of pensioners have been met with fury after flying  a Union flag in their garden upside down. Betty and Maurice Curtis, both aged 96, were accused of flying the flag from their 15-foot pole in an “arrogant” and “insulting” way in an anonymous letter sent through their post.

The letter read: “To whom it should concern. Is it in ignorance or arrogance that you persist in flying the ‘Union Jack’ upside down To do so, other than in genuine need to send an ‘S-O-S’, is an insult! For your education, please refer to the illustration below, which shows the correct way to display the flag of the union.”

The letter also included an image of the Union Jack and the message: “Prevalent part of white uppermost diagonal should be atop the red diagonal.”

The couple, from Weymouth, Dorsert, were not happy after receiving the letter, admitting to their “genuine mistake” but adding there was “no need” for such a “horrible” letter.

Betty said: “I know the person could have served in the services, but there is no need for that.

“They could have just knocked on the door, and we would have changed it around straight away. Why can’t people just be nice?

“It’s a real job for Maurice to get up and change the flags sometimes, especially when it’s windy.

“We don’t know who it could be. Our neighbours are all lovely, so it may even have been someone passing on the main street or bus, but to take the time and trouble to come up the drive is horrible.

“It was a genuine mistake. We didn’t know, and we didn’t persist. We all make mistakes; haven’t they ever done so?”

Betty and Maurice have flown the flag in their garden for years without any issues.