Dad who painted Union Jack flag on his house stripped of job as shopping centre Santa

A dad who "became public enemy number one" after slapping a giant Union Jack on the front of his house has been told he will no longer be allowed to volunteer as Father Christmas at his local shopping centre. Simon Brocklehurst, known for years as the Sutton-in-Ashfield Santa, was planning to once again hand out presents in his handcrafted sleigh at the Idlewells Shopping Centre in Nottinghamshire. He says he is "gutted" to be banned from taking part this year, but bosses say his removal has nothing to do with his proud flag parade.

The 42-year-old, who unexpectedly burst into the limelight locally after painting the St George's Cross on the front of his home, has given up his time at Christmas to for the past four years. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. Mr Brocklehurst first painted a St George's Cross on the side of his house last September in response to his England flag being ripped down.

Before long, he decided to add a splash of blue to turn the flag into the Union Jack. He explained he wanted to represent the "freedom" that his grandfather fought for in the Second World War - and feels he his removal is down to how his home looks. He told the Nottingham Post : "I do it all for free and I buy the presents I'd just spent a grand and a half on a giant inflatable snow globe and built a model village. "They previously said I could do it and I was just trying to do a good thing.

There are people that come from miles and miles away just to see me. I don't want them to be disappointed." The dad says he had popped in to Idlewells for a hot drink last week when he was told he would not be able to volunteer at the centre this year. Mr Brocklehurst said he is also fully DBS-checked and has also raised money for local charities whilst donning his red suit with white fur trim at the shopping centre. Jason Truscott, the shopping centre's manager, said that the recent decision "has nothing whatsoever to do with the Union Jack displayed" on Mr Brocklehurst's property.

"Firstly, we would like to thank Mr Brocklehurst for his time and contributions to the centre over the past four years," Mr Truscott said. "The centre is now operating under new management, and as part of our approach, we are reviewing various aspects of the centre’s activities and arrangements, including our Christmas programme. "As a community shopping centre, our priority is to provide a welcoming, inclusive and neutral environment for everyone.

We remain grateful to Mr Brocklehurst for his previous contributions and wish him all the best." Last September, Mr Brocklehurst said he hoped to make his home a landmark of 'Operation Raise the Colours' - a campaign which saw Union Jacks and St George's Crosses tied to lampposts, bridges, and roundabouts across the UK. Campaign group Hope Not Hate claimed that Tommy Robinson and other ex-members of the English Defence League spearheaded the movement - but Mr Brocklehurst has repeatedly insisted his decorating scheme "has nothing to do with racism".