New Worcestershire county flag flown at cathedral

The flag has been flying above Worcester Cathedral

The first official county flag for Worcestershire has been raised in a ceremony at Worcester cathedral.

Its emblem of three black pears set against a blue and green background was the winning design in a competition run by BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Competition winner Elaine Truby, 51, from Worcester, said she was thrilled that her design had been chosen.

The radio station said it ran the competition after it discovered the county did not have an official flag.

It said it had more than 400 entries.

Mrs Truby said she chose three black pears because they were "synonymous with Worcester" and its coat of arms.

'Bit of history'

The green and blue wavy lines represent the countryside and rivers that run through the county, she said.

"I'm so proud and the thing that actually thrills me the most is that it's a bit of history that I've made.

"It's very sort of humbling in a way," she said.

Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester, said the flag suited the county perfectly.

"It looks magnificent and it's wonderful that the flag has been designed by someone from Worcester," he said.

"I'm looking forward to having my own copy of the flag to put up in my office."

The 12ft x 6ft (4m x 2m) flag was made by Bromsgrove firm, Up the Pole.

It is only the third flag to be flown over the cathedral after the flag of St George and the Royal Standard, according to cathedral officials.

The Flag Institute said the new design would be added to UK Flag Registry.