Dear editor,

Most of the comments your site makes about racism relate to Flanders. I have lived and worked in Flanders without incident. I found the people happy, very outgoing and eager to help.

Taking up the issue of racism in Flanders or Wallonia, I am a resident of Namur. I am a white, English Protestant. My grandparents spent several years in the mud of Flanders in World War II.

I, my wife and son have suffered constant racist abuse for the two years that we have lived in the province of Namur. And I mean blatant racist remarks every time we go out. Our home has been attacked several times and we are verbally abused by people that we have never spoken to.

The police are unconcerned as is the British embassy. The British Consul Michael Kerr stated that we should leave Belgium. When asked if that is the government advice to foreigners, he reconfirmed that it is probably best. The press office at the British embassy made an odd statement that Wallonians are probably rude because they do not understand us. It is not just mindless yobs, it is government officials, bank staff etc.

How can you live in a place where you are hated for displaying your own and Belgium's national flag in respect for those of WWII? How can you live in a place where the first thing they say to you is: 'This is Wallonia, go back to England'?

Yes, I made a big mistake buying here. We will probably lose thousands of euros selling our home. I have lived and worked all over Europe and have never come across this, not even in Ulster.

Regards,
Rigby