The millionaire founder of green energy firm Ecotricity says he is taking legal action against the Government for using his company's 'green' Union Flag logo.

Dale Vince, who also owns the Forest Green Rovers Football Club has hired lawyers to prevent the Government's use of the flag to promote its Green Week initiative.

The committed vegan announced the move on the day climate minister Claire Perry launched Green Week as Cuadrilla restarted fracking in Lancashire.

The first Green GB Week runs until this Friday, October 19 and aims to raise debate in society about how to tackle climate change while also growing the economy.

Mr Vince tweeted: "We've begun legal action against the UK government for using our green Union Jack flag trademark to promote their green washing attempts at Green GB Week."

The Green energy tycoon, whose firm is based in Stroud and has its HQ building draped with a green flag, then hit out at the Government on his Facebook page.

He said: "Perhaps it's a sign of the Trumpian times we live in, but politicians think they can ignore reality and paint themselves as the total opposite of what they really are.

"This is the government that has been forcing fracking on us, removing legal and environmental protections, taking planning decisions out of local hands and breaking new ground by jailing peaceful protesters.

"This is the same government that shut down our onshore wind and solar industries and then slapped a carbon tax on renewable energy. To now celebrate with a Green GB week makes this most incredible greenwashing I've ever seen.

"With the UN recently saying we have 12 years to save the world, there's a real urgency to actually implement green policies and this government is in reverse.

"We've begun legal action against the UK government for using our trademarked green Union Jack flag to promote their initiative. Simply put, we don't want the public confusing their version of a green Britain with ours."