TOWN councillors in Darwen have refused to pay for flagpoles at a high school.

Governers at Darwen Vale had asked the council if it would provide the poles to be put up at the school.

But Marsh House councillor Frank Connor told colleagues: “It is not for parish councils like us to give money to schools for things like flagpoles. Schools have their own reserves.” Fellow Marsh House councillor Tom Evans said: “If we say yes to this we will get every school in Darwen coming to us asking for money.”