Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Pride flag has been ripped down from an East Yorkshire police station and destroyed in a targeted attack on the LGBT community.

The rainbow flag was torn down from Bridlington Police Station and a 'hate email' sent to various people, including the Chief Constable, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner and chair of the Hull and East Riding LGBT Forum.

The email has been sent from a group claiming to be the "Men of Bridlington" who claim that if the flag is put back up, they will tear it down again.

(Image: @HP_BridDrifHorn)

The email also contains homophobic abuse to the LGBT community and the police.

'These comments have no place in today's modern society'

Andy Train, chair of the Hull and East Riding LGBT Forum said: "The email contains comments that belong in the 1950s and have no place in today's modern society.

"These people are stating that they were responsible for cutting down the flag and that if it goes back up they will do the same again.

"This is damage to police property and it's such a shame as we have such a good relationship with the police - they have been top notch to us.

"All the language used in the email is all hateful, this is a potential hate crime.

The full contents of the email, which was sent on Sunday morning, have not been released, however Mr Train has issued a direct response to those who sent it.

'You are sad bigots'

Speaking to the group behind the attack, Mr Train said: "You are sad bigots and have attitudes that are well out of sync with modern society and the real world.

"All this does is emphasise the importance of why we hold events like Pride and will continue to do so in the future.

"No hetrosexual person wakes up in a morning and is worried about going to work because of their sexual orientation. This is why we will continue the work we are doing."

For the first time in Humberside Police's history, rainbow flags were flown from flag poles at police stations across the force area earlier this month.

A force spokesman said at the time: "By raising the flags we are celebrating diversity, and showing our support for, and our commitment to, serving the LGBTQ communities across our force area."

Mr Train has urged anyone who has information about "Men in Bridlington" to contact Humberside Police on 101.

Get the Hull Live app

It's completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store , or get the Android version from Google Play .