THE wait for Exmoor's first flag will finally be over when the Dunster Castle Express steam train pulls into Minehead station on Wednesday October 29.

On board will be the first official flag for Exmoor - as well as local celebrity Johnny Kingdom, the flag competition organisers and flag authority Robin Ashburner.

The train is due to arrive at 11.42am, and a reception will be held in the Turntable Café at Minehead Station at which the flag will be presented to local civic dignitaries.

The flag will then embark on a tour of the area in a Quantock Heritage vintage bus, distributing flags to towns and villages for them to have their own celebration.

"The railway has been pleased to be involved with the Exmoor Flag project's development and is looking forward to welcoming the guests on October 29," said WSR general manager Paul Conibeare.

"We are always pleased to work closely with the local communities in promoting the area around and the communities along the route of the line."

The creation of the official flag for Exmoor has been planned to coincide with Exmoor National Park's 60th anniversary celebrations, and Exmoor will be the first area that encompasses a national park to have its own flag.

The 261 competition entries were whittled down to five finalists' designs, with the public voting on the winner.

Designs came from across the world, from community groups and schools to individuals as young as two and as old as 93, and a gallery displaying the original designs is expanding daily on the Exmoor Flag website http://www.exmoorflag.co">www.exmoorflag.co. uk/flag-entries.

The five finalists were Jamie Loudon, Martin Shoots, Kathryn Roseveare, Kevin Sandiford and Jenny Stevens, and 858 people voted for their favourite Exmoor Flag design, with 446 votes cast online and 412 received in the post.