Express & Star

Artists urged to design flag to represent Willenhall

There is a week left for budding artists to design a flag for Willenhall which can be flown at various events to celebrate the town.

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The winning design will be officially registered with the Flag Institute and selected by a public vote.

Community website willenhallaywe.co.uk and shopping giant Poundland teamed up to launch the competition and the deadline for entries is March 21.

Organisers have announced the Royal George pub in Willenhall will sponsor the event and offer a prize to the winner, which is yet to be decided.

Poundland will pay for the manufacture of the winning design and it is hoped the flag will serve as a symbol for the community and raise the profile of the area.

A list of judges will be convened to select six finalists that will be put to a public vote running between April 7 to 26.

Ways to vote will include email, visiting the community website or Facebook.

A winning design will then be chosen and the Willenhall flag will be unveiled at Willenhall Carnival on June 14.

The judging panel will comprise of representatives from Poundland, Willenhall History Society, Walsall Local History Centre, WH Tildesley, Willenhall Town FC and local councillors.

Competition organiser Kalie Plant, who owns the community website, said: "We want lots of entries to come in.

"We now have the Royal George pub sponsoring us and the prize will be revealed later on the website.

"More and more small towns are getting their own flags. It gives towns their own identity.

"Hopefully we will be able to use the flag at various events. It's a bit of pride for Willenhall and will promote the town.

"We have been getting some good designs so far. Some have included references to Willenhall's famous lock industry."

It is also hoped the flag will be flown at Willenhall Town FC and on buildings in the town.

To enter the competition, visit willenhallaywe.co.uk or the Crazy Wicks shop in Willenhall.

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