DUP councillor Margaret Tinsley posted the images on Facebook

A DUP councillor couple have been criticised after posing for a photo beside a burning bonfire with an Irish tricolour on top.

Margaret Tinsley and her husband James Tinsley were photographed beside the Edenderry bonfire in Portadown, Co Armagh.

Mrs Tinsley is deputy lord mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council, while her husband is a Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor.

Posting pictures on Facebook, Mrs Tinsley wrote: "Brilliant bonfire. Well done to all the volunteers. Always a great start to the July celebrations."

The images appear to show a tricolour on top of the burning structure.

Sinn Féin Lurgan area councillor Keith Haughian described it as "absolutely unacceptable".

DUP councillor Margaret Tinsley posted the images on Facebook

"The deputy mayor is supposed to represent everyone in the borough, but glorifying this type of activity is deeply offensive to large sections of our society," he said.

"Burning of flags, posters and effigies on bonfires is wrong and have been rightly described by the PSNI as hate crimes."

SDLP Lisburn councillor Johnny McCarthy said it was "incredibly disappointing" and called for an apology.

"When we're trying to build a united community in Lisburn, all public representatives need to be mindful of their actions and the message it sends to all the people living in our city," he said.

"There is no instance where it's okay to celebrate as a flag that represents people here is burned."

In a statement, a DUP spokeswoman said Mrs Tinsley was not attending the event in her capacity as deputy mayor.

"Councillor Margaret Tinsley attended the events in her own capacity and not as deputy mayor for Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, with Alderman James Tinsley," she said.

"The DUP have been clear in the past that culture is not the burning of flags or posters.

"Sinn Féin are not in the position to lecture when it comes to commemorative events within their own community.

"Respect for each other's culture works both ways. Both communities should work to express culture in a dignified way."

It is not the first time DUP representatives have faced criticism over pictures while attending bonfire events in the run-up to the Twelfth.

The DUP's Edwin Poots took a selfie, right, at Ballymacash bonfire which had been bedecked in tricolours

In 2016, DUP MLA Edwin Poots took a selfie beside a blazing bonfire in Lisburn that had earlier been bedecked in tricolours.

The former health minister said at the time he "really couldn't care less" about criticism over his attendance.

DUP communities minister Paul Givan lights an Eleventh Night bonfire in 2016

DUP MLA Paul Givan was also criticised in 2016 after being pictured lighting a bonfire while he was Stormont communities minister.

Emails uncovered by The Irish News later revealed a senior Stormont environmental official said Mr Givan's actions in Co Tyrone were considered "an offence".

Environment Agency staff investigated and Mr Givan was given "advice" as part of a "proportional response".

Danny Kinahan faced criticism for this picture when he was Ulster Unionist MP

In the same year, then Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan apologised after posing for a photo beside a bonfire while it bore a tricolour.

He said the flag was removed from the pyre before it was lit.