Russian flag draped from Salisbury Cathedral nearly a year after Skripal novichok attack

A huge Russian flag has appeared draped over the north front of Salisbury Cathedral, causing outrage in the city.

The massive tricolour was hung high on scaffolding at the building in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The stunt follows almost a year after the novichok poisonings of the former Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which caused the city to go into lockdown. A woman in nearby Amesbury who was also exposed to the lethal nerve agent later died.

"This was a remarkably stupid thing to do and makes light the huge personal tragedies involved, and the damage done to the city by the unprecedented nerve agent attacks,” the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, said.

The flag – now removed – was first spotted by citizens early Sunday morning.

One, a paramedic Lee Martin, posted pictures on Twitter which have since gone viral.

“How dare some stupid fool disrespect our city,” he wrote. “After everything this city has gone through, it does not need this.”

John Glen, the city’s MP, added: “What a stupid stunt - mocking the serious events sadly experienced in Salisbury last year."

Wiltshire Police said it was too early to say whether an offence had been committed but officers were examining CCTV footage from the area.

Two Russian secret service operatives identified as having visited Salisbury at the time the Skripals were poisoned later went on the country’s state TV to say they were tourists keen to visit the city and its historic cathedral.

A third man, Sergey Fedotov, may also have been involved in the poisonings, it was claimed earlier this month.

Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks, which Prime Minister Theresa May indicated were "almost certainly" sanctioned by Vladimir Putin.