A female councillor in a Sussex seaside town was "pushed to the floor" after confronting two men erecting England flags along an A-road, according to reports. The unnamed politician, a woman in her forties, approached the men while they were hoisting flags on the lampposts along the A259 in Seaford on October 13, police said.

They then became involved in a verbal disagreement which quickly turned physical as the woman was "pushed to the floor". Lewes District Council confirmed that the woman involved was a sitting councillor, The Argus reports. Sussex Police said it was investigating reports of an assault on the roadside at around 9pm on Monday.

A 29-year-old man from Peacehaven was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been released on bail, while officers continue to search for the second suspect.

A council spokesperson said: "While we can confirm the incident involved a district councillor, this is a police matter and we will not be making any further comment."

Union Jacks and St George's flags have been attached to flagpoles, railings, signs and lampposts across the country in recent months as part of a campaign known as Operation Raise the Colours.

Local authorities around the UK have also courted backlash by removing the flags on the grounds that they pose safety concerns or were erected on street furniture illegally.

Police in Derbyshire launched an investigation into reported threats of rape directed at a Labour councillor last month after she announced the council would begin removing the flags from public spaces.

Sarah Chambers, cabinet member for communities, equality and public safety, told residents that although officials "understand and share the pride our residents feel in being British, it is time to bring this campaign of flag-flying to an end, as we need to begin to clear our lampposts for future seasonal and commemorative events".

She was then allegedly threatened with rape by a man shouting from a car in what police are treating as a public order incident.