County Durham flag design competition launched Published duration 3 July 2013

image caption The Flag Institute said the design should be simple and distinctive

A campaign has been launched to design a flag to celebrate the "cultural heritage" of County Durham.

The county, spanning from Tyne and Wear down to Darlington, is the only one in the north of England without a flag, according to the Flag Institute.

Adventurer Andy Strangeway from Yorkshire, wants people to design a flag expressing what the county means to them.

The winning flag will be registered in the Flag Institute's UK Flag Registry.

Mr Strangeway has already established flags for the historic East Riding, North Riding and West Riding of Yorkshire.

He said the flag would be a public symbol to "raise recognition and awareness" of the ceremonial county, express "pride" in the local community and celebrate the "cultural heritage" of County Durham.

The Flag Institute said the design should be simple and distinctive, with meaningful symbolism and basic colouring.

Legends and folklore, traditional emblems and colours and local people, achievements and industries should be considered when designing the flag.

A panel of senior county councillors would choose the top six designs which would then be put to a public vote.

The first County Durham flag will be walked down the River Tees in 2014.