The voting age has been lowered in Herefordshire but only regarding the new County flag.

The Herefordshire Flag Committee said that, when people of the county pick the winner in the summer, everyone from the age of five will be able to have their say.

“Children are the future of Herefordshire and it’s going to be their flag more than anyone’s,” said committee chairman David Marshall. “We want them to take part in the competition and we want them to help pick the winner.”

“This is about creating a simple, striking image that everyone can recognise and understand,” he added. “So their view is particularly important. We hope that teachers and parents will take the chance to tell children about where they live and why it’s such a terrific place. But this is not just for the young. We want everyone’s ideas.”

So far 36 of England’s 39 historic counties have their own official flag and organisers say the flag will help raise the profile of the county - and enable its people to express their own pride in living here.

Two versions of a Herefordshire flag have been available for sale online, but they have no official status. Herefordshire Council also has a flag but it can only be flown by others with permission. The winning flag in this competition will be registered by the Flag Institute and available for use by anyone.

Prospective flag-designers will be able to enter the competition from March 1st and the closing date will be April 15th. Anyone (wherever they live) can enter, free of charge, as many times as they like.

An assessment panel will then choose a short-list of possibles from which voters can choose. The actual vote will be restricted to people with an address in Herefordshire and children’s ballots will have to be authenticated by a responsible adult.

Voting is expected to take place during June and July with the winning flag being hoisted at a ceremony in Hereford later in the year.

Organisers emphasise that the contest is not primarily intended as a test of artistic skill. Although experienced artists and designers are encouraged to be part of this project, the panel will also be looking for imaginative ideas. The Flag Committee is working in co-operation with Herefordshire Council and the Flag Institute, the national body which maintains the UK’s register of flags.

The Institute’s communities officer, Philip Tibbetts, will sit with the panel to advise whether entries meet the technical criteria for registration. Crucial factors include whether the flag can be recognised whether or not the wind is blowing - and whether it is simple enough to be drawn from memory by a child.

Full details of the competition can be downloaded from www.the-shire.co.uk/herefordshireflag