THEY have travelled the world but a collection of historic flags have now been seized by thieves.

It is thought they must have climbed more than ten foot up a tree to untie the banners in Headbourne Worthy.

They were flying outside the home of David Spurling, who inherited the flags from his late father, Eric.

He was a captain with P&O and regularly sailed out of Southampton.

The banners, which are thought to date from the 1960s, were ‘courtesy flags’ flown when vessels docked overseas.

They include Portuguese and Filipino flags that would have been flown whenever P&O visited those countries.

Capt Spurling’s son, who is now 72 and retired, decided to take them out of storage for the Diamond Jubilee.

He strung the historic bunting outside his home in Bedfield Lane, but it vanished last Sunday night (June 3).

He said a wheelie bin had been moved in the garden, possibly by the thieves in their efforts to climb the tree.

He added that the value of the flags was unknown, and it was highly unlikely that they had blown away.

Mr Spurling said: “It just seems an unimaginable thing to do when everyone else is celebrating the jubilee.”

He has reported the theft, and anyone with information is urged to call Winchester police on 0845 045 4545.