A DUP MLA has distanced himself from the views he expressed in an old post on Twitter in which he appeared to endorse the display of flags on a bonfire.
David Brooks shared a photo in 2012 showing the flag of Argentina on an Eleventh Night pyre at Orangefield in East Belfast.
Posting the image, he tweeted: "See Argies have earned a spot on Orangefield (Belfast) bonfire alongside the usual IRA flags haha #Falklands #11thnight."
Read more: Bonfire removed near Belfast special school due to 'health and safety', education body says
Mr Brooks, who was elected to Stormont in May, earlier this week publicly criticised "pathetic" messages placed on a bonfire in the Cregagh estate.
He also appeared on radio on behalf of the DUP to condemn a bonfire in Carrickfergus which displayed effigies of Alliance leader Naomi Long and Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill.
In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Brooks said bonfires "should move away from" displaying flags and that "we can all seek to improve and do things better".
The East Belfast MLA said: "I have spoken clearly, immediately and publicly in recent days against vile messages and election posters on a small minority bonfires.
"Where there are examples of bonfires continuing to have flags, I personally believe we should move away from that.
"There is much to be proud of within our traditions, much to harness and carry forward.
"We shouldn't be afraid of looking at how we can improve events and remove that which may be seen as denigrating others."
Mr Brooks, who was elected to Belfast City Council in 2019 before becoming an MLA, continued: "I've celebrated the 11th night since helping to build my own community's bonfire in Comber as a youngster.
"Many things have changed and improved over time however.
"There are fewer controversial bonfire sites now than in the past; many are more family friendly with a full programme of events and when I collected in my early teens, tyres were as common as pallets; today that is unacceptable.
"We can all seek to improve and do things better whilst retaining the important culture and history that bonfires celebrate.
"I am proud of my traditions and want to hand them on to another generation in as positive a way as possible.
"I will always be keen to work with local communities on how we can improve and build on what we have, and I intend to do just that through continued engagement."
On Wednesday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the burning of "posters, flags or pictures of serving politicians" following criticism of displays on a number of bonfires.
He said: "We have a rich Ulster-British cultural identity. I want people to focus on celebrating and displaying our culture rather than denigrating others."
Around 250 bonfires were lit in loyalist communities across Northern Ireland on Monday night to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading calendar.
Fire crews attended 35 bonfire-related calls between 6pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday - a 12.5% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Police said they were gathering evidence after complaints about flags, election posters and effigies being placed on some bonfires.
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