England shirt ban 'a myth', say Devon police

Devon and Cornwall Police have dispelled a rumour circulating via text messages and social networking sites that police are asking people not to wear shirts or hang St George Cross flags in the run up to an during the football World Cup.

The hoax email, which seems to have spread across the internet, suggests that officers are asking England supporters not to wear shirts in pubs for fear of upsetting other groups of people.

The hoax then invites the recipient to pass it on or update it on their status.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that this is not the situation and that this is merely a myth designed to incense and irritate."