London, May 24 (ANI): A driver was told to remove an England flag from his car by police because it could offend immigrants, or be fined 30 pounds.

Ben Smith, 18, was stopped in a routine spot check by traffic cops who found nothing wrong with his five-year-old Vauxhall Corsa.

But the teenage upholsterer was stunned when he was told that the St George flag covering his parcel shelf was racist.

Smith initially thought the officer was joking until he was threatened with a 30 pounds fine if he refused to remove it from view.

I honestly could not believe what the police officer was saying. He wasnt rude about it at all. He was just very matter-of-fact about the flag being racist and offensive to immigrants, the Daily Express quoted him, as saying.

Smith, an avid England football fan, said he used the flag to cover up a new set of speakers, which he wanted to hide from would-be thieves

He said: I just thought he was joking and started to laugh, but he looked at me very seriously and said that I would have to pay a PS30 on-the-spot fine if I refused.

Chief Inspector Charlie Dibble, of Wiltshire Police, believed the issue was more likely to be one of road safety.

The officer asked him to remove the flag from his parcel shelf, where he admits it was covering his speakers, he said.

Road safety and the ability to have a clear view at all times of what is behind you is of great public importance. Officers are encouraged to take positive action in this regard and this would apply if there was any object obscuring the drivers view, he added. (ANI)