Brexit supporter burns EU flag near Downing Street

A Brexit supporter burned a European Union (EU) flag beside Downing Street in central London on Friday as others jeered at pro-EU demonstrators in the final hours before the United Kingdom is due to leave the bloc.

About 200-300 pro-European Union supporters were mocked by pro-Brexit supporters as they walked from Downing Street to the office of the European Commission in London. Police formed a line to keep the two groups apart.

A pro-EU activist wearing a cape decorated with an EU flag design joins a rally organised by civil rights group outside Europe House in London. AFP

The pro-Brexit supporters were singing "shame on you, shame on you,” "losers, losers” and "bye, bye EU” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

UK's Brussels embassy takes down EU flag

Meanwhile, the EU's flag was removed from outside the British embassy to the EU in Brussels on Friday, hours before the United Kingdom was set to formally leave the EU after 47 years of membership.

A man reached out of a window on the first floor of the building and pulled in the official symbol of the EU, a circle of 12 stars on a blue background, leaving only Britain's Union Jack flying on the flagpole.

With Britain's exit at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT), it will be considered by the remaining 27 member states as a third country and its Permanent Representation to the EU will become a foreign mission.

On Saturday the name plate outside the building will be replaced, and it will now be known as the UK Mission to the European Union, which some have already dubbed "UKmissEU."

Reuters