Flag at heart of Gornal's community

Each year pupils at Gornal's three schools - Roberts Primary, Red Hall Primary and Straits Primary - are asked to draw up a flag to be flown outside the library in Abbey Road.

And this year it was Chloe Halford's creation which was chosen as the winning design.

The centre of the flag represents the heart of Gornal and around it are six images depicting different stores, shops and services. These include fruit to represent the grocery store and a medicine container symbolising the chemist.

A special ceremony was held outside Gornal Library on Saturday in which the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Margaret Aston, unveiled 10-year-old Chloe's winning design.

She said: "It is a real honour and a pleasure to have been asked to help unveil the flag for Gornal.

"It is wonderful to see the creativity of the young people who have been involved in this year's competition. Well done to everyone involved."

The competition was funded by Ellowes Hall and Area Tenants and Residents Association and attracted dozens of entries.

Chloe is a pupil at Red Hall Primary meaning there has now been a winning entry from each school.

Last year Hannah Baker from Straits Primary created the winning flag which featured the pig on the wall, referring to a local legend about a man who puts his animal on the wall to get a better view as a military band passed by.

And in the inaugural competition it was Jack Rogers from Roberts Primary who won with his flag featuring a rainbow and other brightly coloured figures.

Ward councillor Dave Branwood was at the unveiling.

He said: "It was a great morning. It is a really good event for the community. It is the third year we have run it now and it is becoming a bit of a feature in Gornal's calendar.

"It is a really worthwhile creative project which helps to foster a real sense of pride and belonging.

"Gornal is already a very close knit community and I think this project really reinforces that."