LOYALISTS have been gathering more bonfire material three months before Twelfth of July celebrations are due to take place.
In recent days pallets have appeared in loyalist areas across Belfast including Mount Vernon to the north of the city and Donegall Pass near the city centre.
It is understood plans are also underway in other parts of the north to resume bonfire building after many areas suspended their plans last year due to the Covid pandemic.
Continued relaxation of health restrictions and rising tensions within unionism could now see a return to the construction of huge pyres in the run-up to July.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that a Union flag was put outside a nationalist-controlled council on several occasions last week.
It is understood the Dungannon office of Mid Ulster District Council was targeted three times and on each occasion the flag was removed.
The council, which has a no flags policy, did not fly the flag after the death of Prince Philip earlier this month.
A post on a loyalist Facebook page later claimed that it was believed that "some volunteers" put the flag up in response.
Another post said: "The unionist/loyalist people of Dungannon are determined to show their respects as the funeral takes place of Prince Phillip."
In 2016 council officials ordered the removal of a Union flag pole from the centre of Magherafelt, a move that sparked an angry response from unionists.
Elsewhere, loyalist anger over the current political crisis has been turned on the DUP.
In recent weeks a poster was put up in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, criticising the party.
It read: "DUP you stand on the graves of Ulster's dead."
A DUP spokesperson said: "Unionists are standing together to oppose the protocol.
"It is disappointing that some are trying to sow division.
"We note it was swiftly removed."
