Devon

and Cornwall Police have dispelled a rumour circulating via text

messages and social networking sites that police are asking people not

to wear England football shirts or hang St George Cross flags in the run up to and during

the FIFA World Cup 2010.

The hoax which has

spread like wildfire across the internet, suggests that officers are

asking supporters not to wear England football shirts in pubs for fear

of upsetting other nationalities.

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."