THE Olympic flag has been stolen from Upton-upon-Severn.

The special flag, triumphantly raised on Sunday to mark the countdown to the London 2012 Games, was taken overnight - just hours after it had been hoisted into the air as part of a symbolic handover ceremony during the Upton Water Festival.

"The whole town was proud of that flag," said Peter Webb, chairman of Upton's Tourism and Trade Association.

"It was a symbol for all the hard work and effort that had gone into the ceremony. I'm still hoping it may have been a prank and it will be returned."

The theft was discovered by festival organisers yesterday morning. At first they thought it had been taken down for safe keeping but, after asking around, they realised it had been stolen.

"On Sunday night, when the fireworks were going off, the flag was extended in the wind," said Mr Webb.

"It looked fantastic and I was so proud of what we had achieved. It came as a really horrible blow to find out someone had taken it."