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County Durham day is being celebrated on 20 March and helps mark the ceremonial county鈥檚 proud heritage of farming, mining and being at the heart of the railway industry.

To recognise the day in London, the blue and yellow of the county鈥檚 recently designed flag was raised high outside the offices of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

County days, flags and historic counties are an important part of English history with many dating back thousands of years and the government is keen that people are encouraged to mark these strong traditions.

People should take pride in their local identities and continue to champion them irrespective of current tiers of local administration.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

I鈥檓 delighted we are able to recognise County Durham鈥檚 day and fly this new flag in the heart of the capital.

James Moffatt the designer of the flag said:

As the designers of the County Durham flag, my daughters and I chose this particular design to reflect the cultural heritage of County Durham. This flag gives our beloved county a visible symbol which unites us all, moving us forward from our glorious past towards a proud future. We are delighted to celebrate the first County Durham day with our new and distinguished flag.

Working with the independent , the government is encouraging more local communities to create their own local flags.

The government has already relaxed the rules relating to the flying of flags to make it easier for a wider range of flags to be flown without the need for express consent which could cost up to 拢335. The changes will increase the number of flags people can fly, helping promote integration and community spirit.