A PROUD Yorkshireman who launched a competition to design flags for the county’s three historic ridings has unfurled the latest winning entry.

The new North Riding flag was officially revealed to the public at the Strathmore Arms at Holwick, near Barnard Castle, County Durham yesterday (May 4).

After unfurling the flag at the pub, which is the highest drinking establishment in the historic North Riding of Yorkshire, outdoor enthusiast Andy Strangeway took it up Tykes Way – the highest point in Yorkshire.

The winning design, which was created by Jason Saber from Kent, is registered with the UK Flag Registry and will now serve as a free public symbol for all to use.

It was a proud moment for the 48-year-old decorator, of Stanford Bridge, near York, who launched the competition on his website last September following changes to flag flying legislation.

The new legislation defined the flags that could be flown as: “The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom.”

He was further encouraged by a statement by local government secretary Eric Pickles, urging people to champion their historic identities.

At the unfurling ceremony, Mr Strangeway, who is famed for sleeping under the stars at the highest points of the 52 counties of England and Wales, said: “As no flags existed for the ridings of Yorkshire I took this as an open invitation and launched competitions for flags for all three ridings.

“The whole purpose of the flag is to reflect and celebrate our cultural heritage and the winning design certainly does that.”

For more information visit andystrangeway.wordpress.com