The new official flag for the city of Birmingham has been unveiled today.

Co-designed by 11-year-old Thomas Keogh and David Smith, the flag takes inspiration from the Bullring and Birmingham's reputation as the 'city of a thousand trades'.

The red, blue and yellow image was the clear winner following a public vote on a final shortlist of six (see gallery below).

It will represent the city around the world and is freely available to businesses, residents and souvenir manufacturers to use.

It features the bull from the Bullring and a yellow abstract letter B for Birmingham which, on its side, doubles as a Roman numeral 'M' for 1,000 to represent the city of a thousand trades.

Former Lord Mayor Mike Leddy launched the design competition earlier this year because he believed the city needed a community flag which would be owned by the people.

By contrast, the city's civic flag, flown from public buildings, is jealously guarded by the council with permission rarely given for its use.

Coun Leddy (Lab Brandwood), who chaired the Birmingham flag project, said: "We had 470 entries for this competition and shortlisted six designs.

"After six weeks of voting, we can now reveal that the winning design, with 3,697 votes and a clear majority, was created by 11 year old Thomas Keogh and David Smith and I congratulate them both.

"I hope this flag will help to instil civic pride in this wonderful city. The flag design is now registered and is available online for anyone to download for free."

Coun Leddy said he was keen on the idea as, during his year as Lord Mayor, he received guests from afar who had flags to exchange but did not have one to hand back.