By George! Bradford councillor Michael Walls wants St George's Day to be made an official public holiday, celebrating all things English.

The Tory councillor for Queensbury says the English make a big fuss of recognising other people's cultures but shy away from celebrating their own.

He said: "The English seem to overlook our own culture and heritage which is a shame because we have got so much to celebrate and shout about.

"It's as though we don't want to offend anyone living here who isn't British - we are such a tolerant lot, culturally we don't like drawing attention to ourselves but St George's Day is one day that we should."

He said tolerance, a sense of fair play, good manners and chivalry were among the many great English virtues and added: "We are a bastion of freedom and decency and that's why we should make a big fuss on our national day - the Irish, Scots and Welsh all celebrate theirs in style, so why shouldn't we?"

Coun Walls put forward a motion before a full council meeting last night urging members to get the Government to make St George's Day a public holiday.

And the Council went patriotic by backing Coun Walls. Councillors from all parties cheered him on and then passed a motion to:

lInclude the day as a recognised day of celebration in policies prepared under the new licensing regime;

lProvide support to communities wanting to celebrate the occasion;

lFly the flag from City Hall and other Council buildings on the day itself.

The authority is also expected to begin drawing up plans for an annual civic recognition of St George's Day in future. Later this year councils will take over the granting of pub licenses and extensions from local magistrate rule and Coun Walls wants Bradford Council to look favourably on any applications for longer opening hours on St George's Day itself.

"Look at the Irish. They really know how to throw a party and have a good time. Pubs already get extensions for St Patrick's Day so St George's Day shouldn't be any different," he said.

Enthusiasm for toasting St George's Day seems to have run dry in Bradford, only The Ring O' Bells pub in Queensbury asked magistrates for a drinks extension but withdrew its application before it was heard and not one pub or club asked the Council for special public entertainment licences for the night.

Coun Walls won support from councillors to back local groups and communities wanting to organise events to mark the national day which falls every year on April 23. "Street parties, concerts, entertainment for youngsters would be just the stuff to help the city celebrate.

"I'm being mindful of what I say because being typically English I don't want to offend anyone and I don't want people to think I'm pushing Englishness for any wrong reasons. It's great that we all live together and respect each other's cultures but we shouldn't forget our own."

John Clemence, chairman of the Royal Society of St George, priased Coun Walls for making the move.

He said: "He's a good man for putting it forward. We're with him for most of his suggestion but the public holiday idea might prove to be impractical."