A French restaurant owner led the charge for English patriotism yesterday, as people in the borough took to the streets to celebrate St George's Day.

Jean-Philippe Gravier, who runs Le Petit Nantais restaurant in East Molesey, was one of the main organisers of a St George's Day event taking place in Bridge Road.

He said he wanted English people to be as patriotic as the French and was even wearing a t-shirt which read “English and Proud”.

“It takes a French man to show you what is wrong,” he said. “The day is important. Everyone celebrates St Patrick’s Day and not St George’s Day, but we don’t live in Ireland, we live in England.”

The Grotto Inn in Monument Hill, Weybridge, also took part in the celebrations, decking the pub with St George’s flags and serving English ale, pie and mash and jellied eels. There was also a free pint on offer for any customers with a shilling.

Landlord Colin Daniels said he had been celebrating the day at various pubs he had worked in since 1979.

He said: “It’s our day, let’s make it a Bank Holiday. The Scots get their day, the Irish get theirs, the Welsh get theirs.

“Let’s remember we’re English and reclaim the flag off the racists. It’s our flag and we want it back.”