Shropshire flag flies at Department for Communities and Local Government
The flag representing the historic county of Shropshire has been hoisted above the department's offices.
To celebrate the important place counties play in the nation鈥檚 cultural heritage Secretary of State Eric Pickles has asked that English county standards be flown alongside the Union Flag outside DCLG鈥檚 Eland House headquarters in Victoria.
Mr Pickles raised the first flag - for his adopted home county of Essex - in a ceremony also attended in September by celebrity astrologer and long-time English county campaigner Russell Grant.
Flags are being flown for a week at a time in alphabetical order or - in cases such as Cornwall and Yorkshire - to coincide with particular county days.
Eric Pickles said:
The Union Flag rightly has pride of place outside the department but I鈥檓 delighted it will now be flown alongside our traditional and ceremonial county flags.
England鈥檚 counties continue to form an important part of our cultural and local identity in this country and many people remain deeply attached to their home county - both the traditional 鈥榗ricket鈥� counties and in some cases their more modern administrative successors. This sense of pride and shared identity is 1 of the things that binds communities together and it鈥檚 right that the government department responsible for communities and local government should be actively recognising the important role they play.
Leader of Shropshire Council, Councillor Keith Barrow said:
We鈥檙e delighted that the Shropshire flag will be flying in London this week.聽Shropshire has a long and rich heritage, which people who live here are understandably proud of.聽As a council we are working hard to support our communities and improve people鈥檚 lives now and for the future.
Further information
The department is obliged to fly the European Union flag during Europe Week (week beginning 9 May) under Article 7(2) of EC Regulation 1828/2006.
The Shropshire flag has been kindly loaned by the Association of British Counties at no charge.
Photographs of the county flags will be added to the