THE new flag of Flintshire is set to fly proudly over the county.

A long-running campaign for an official flag has ended in success after the Flag Institute, the body which manages the UK Flag Registry, granted the county an official flag.

Dozens of groups, as well as hundreds of individual residents, joined the campaign for the flag, which is based on an ancient design.

It features four choughs – a type of bird – in each quarter of a black engrailed flory cross on white.

Historian Shaun Evans, 27, said he was delighted that the flag, which is steeped in the area’s history, has been officially recognised.

He said: “I think that this flag provides a mechanism for people to express pride in coming from this wonderful part of Wales. It would be absolutely terrific to see it flying on the county’s landmarks and the historic sights, but there are lots of ways people can support it in addition to buying the flag itself.

“It belongs to the people of Flintshire now so it’s available to all of the people of Flintshire.”

The flag is for the historic county of Flintshire, which also incorporates Prestatyn, Rhyl and St Asaph, as well as Bangor-on-Dee and Overton-on-Dee.

Mr Evans, who is from Whitford, near Holywell, said it believed choughs used to nest along the coast of Flintshire.

It is based on the coat of arms of Edwin Tegeingl (Edwin ap Gronwy), the 11th century Lord or King of Tegeingl, an area which later formed the core of the county of Flintshire.

North Wales AM Mark Isherwood, who provided support the campaign, also expressed his delight.

He said: “It will be wonderful to see the flag flying at our fantastic landmarks and heritage sites and at prominent events such as the Urdd Eisteddfod Sir y Fflint 2016, Flint and Denbigh Agricultural Show and Mold Food and Drink Festival.

“This flag belongs to the people of Flintshire and I have been told local clubs, societies, organisations and businesses are free to incorporate it into their logos and display it on their websites.”

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said: “It is great news that this campaign has been successful. It is a strong design which I hope people in Flintshire will be able to identify with for years to come and I would like to congratulate the Flintshire Flag Supporters’ Group for their hard work campaigning for it.”

The Flag Institute’s website said: “The arms became used over time as the emblem of the county, including being adopted as a seal by the county council and utilised as an emblem by many Flintshire-representative societies.”