Bradford's Mayoral limo is to be taken off the road after it was stopped by a traffic policeman because of its 'dangerous' flag fitting.

The eagle-eyed officer pulled over the £35,000 black Jaguar because he believed the metal fitting on the bonnet could cause serious injury in an accident.

The Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Miller was not in the car when it was stopped in Manchester Road, Bradford, on Monday.

His chauffeur, who was alone at the time, had been using the car to return mourners from the funeral of Coun Shafiq Mir at the Hanfia Mosque in Carlisle Road.

The flag fitting was deemed to be legal by police, but Coun Miller has ordered that the limousine be taken out of service so that it can be changed to a flexible one.

When asked about the incident by the Telegraph & Argus, Coun Miller said: "I thought just three people knew about this - me, the driver and the police officer."

Later, in an official statement, he added: "I was certainly surprised to hear that there could be a problem with the flag fitting on the Mayoral car - it is not something which has been raised with us by the police before.

"The fitting has been on the car for a number of years. We have been assured by the police that there is nothing wrong with the fitting.

"However, to allay any concerns I have asked my staff to ensure that a flexible fitting is now provided for the flag so that we achieve the highest safety standards possible."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The officer concerned stopped the Mayor's car to query the fitting. Although we are happy with the existing fitting, we welcome the Lord Mayor's move to change it to a flexible one."

Leeds City Council had already been advised about the potential problem of flag fittings on its civic limousine.

A spokesman said: "We removed the fitting about a year ago because we were advised it was illegal. It was replaced with a flexible one, but that was unsatisfactory."

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said its mayoral car has a small flag fitting.

"It's relatively small and you can't even see it when the flag is not there," he said.

An AA spokesman said all vehicles have to adhere to part two of Road Traffic Act 1988, Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment.

The Act states: "No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle...in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide."

It is the second time in three years that Bradford Council's Mayoral limousine has been at the centre of controversy.

In September 1995 it was booked by a traffic warden for not displaying a proper tax disc.

The warden pounced outside City Hall when he spotted the disc was a photocopy. Embarrassed civic staff hurriedly replaced it with the original and blamed it on an oversight.

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