EXMOOR'S much-anticipated new flag was unveiled at a ceremony at the West Somerset Railway station in Minehead.

The flag - officially recognised by the Flag Institute - arrived at the station emblazoned on a steam train and was welcomed by much fanfare and flag waving.

Exmoor becomes the only area encompassing a national park to have its own flag, which it is hoped will be flown by hundreds of businesses and homes and used to help promote the area.

The idea of an official flag for Exmoor came from Brushford friends Edward and Julie Christian and Tony and Ceri Keene, who launched and organised the competition which was timed to tie in with the 60th anniversary celebrations of Exmoor National Park.

The competition attracted 261 designs, not only from local people but from as far away as Australia and America, and they were whittled down to five finalists, with the public voting for the winner.

The winning design came from Jenny Stevens and attracted 41 per cent of the 858 votes cast.

Jenny, who lives in London with her young family, fell in love with Exmoor as a child on a school trip, and the family has a passion for flags, so she said it was an opportunity she couldn't miss.

"The flag tells a story of Exmoor's varied terrain – sea meets river meets cliff path meets moorland meets forest meets wildlife," she said.

Local celebrity Johnny Kingdom presented Jenny with the very first Exmoor Flag, handmade in Exford by Robin Ashburner, a former president of the Flag Institute.

She also received prizes donated by local businesses, including a hamper of Exmoor produce, products and vouchers.

The other four finalists were Minehead man Martin Shoots, Kevin Sandiford, who works at Dulverton Middle School, and Jamie Loudon and Kathryn Roseveare, both from Barnstaple.

Their prizes included a reproduction of their own flag design by James Guscott of Minehead's Active Signs, himself a runner-up in last year's Somerset flag competition.

The panel of judges who chose the finalists included Philip Tibbetts, community vexillologist at the Flag Institute, who said: "It is very pleasing to see how the competition has been heartily backed by the community across the region.

"Through the dedication of the organisers to get the best quality designs, from the corporate supporters that have given the flag a joyous launch today, to the multitude of people who had the enthusiasm and creativity to think up designs - which led to a strong set of finalists and of course a strong registered flag.

"Exmoor can now represent its pride in the unique local culture and environment which in turn is part of the patchwork that makes up our national identity."

At Wednesday's launch, Johnny Kingdom presented flags to the Rural Deanery of Exmoor and five local mayors - from Minehead, Watchet, South Molton, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.

There were further presentations en route as the flag then toured the area on a vintage bus provided by Quantock Heritage and sponsored by local businesses, distributing flags to towns and villages. 

The first stop on the tour was at Porlock, from where a national park ranger carried a flag to fly on Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor.

Exmoor Flags can be bought on http://www.exmoorflag.co.uk/shop">www.exmoorflag.co.uk/shop and at other outlets, and each purchase will include a donation to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the Devon Air Ambulance.