SOUTHAMPTON’S new flag will be flown for the first time today.

The design, by eight-year-old Yihuan Han, will be unveiled in front of onlookers at the Civic Centre at 10am.

The flag raising comes after the Portswood Primary School pupil won a Southampton City Council-run contest to design a new symbol to represent the city.

His winning entry features the Hampshire rose and an anchor.

The eight-year-old is set to attend the ceremony, alongside mayor of Southampton Les Harris and council leader Simon Letts.

Yihuan will also be joined by the winners of each age category of the competition for a winner’s ceremony at the Mayor’s Parlour.

As well as flying high in the city’s skyline, the design will also be added to the Flag Institute’s UK Flag Registry and recognised as the official symbol of Southampton.

Businesses, residents and souvenir manufacturers will be able to use the design to show their pride in their home city.

The winning entry was chosen by Southampton residents in a public poll and received 178 votes.

As previously reported in the Echo, the six finalists were narrowed down from 500 designs, from children aged five and 16. Jesse-Jake Le-Warne, in the 11-to-12 group, from St Mary’s C of E Primary School and now in year seven at Upper Shirley High School came second with 168 votes.

In third was Lucy Marter-Hausen, in the eight-to-nine group, from Ludlow Junior School with 149 votes.

She was followed by Iuri Frias, 11-to-12 group, from Great Oaks School (115 votes); Russel Hasan, 13-to-14 group, Cantell School, (107 votes) and Mouenis Takennit, six-to-seven group, Moorlands Primary School (28 votes).