ONCE again the streets of Bovey Tracey are a little more colourful after shops and businesses are flying the flag.

The medieval-style banners have been unfurled again after being stored away last year.

Weather and age have taken their toll on some of them and these have been refurbished at a volunteers’ workshop earlier this year.

Bridget Arnold, of the Granite Elements arts project, has coordinated the flag programme since it began five years ago.

She said: ‘This year we’ve put up more than 40 flags in and around the town, including the Edgemoor Hotel which hosted our recent repair workshop.’

Among the flags is a new one hanging from the front of The Bell Inn.

Its motif, like others around the town, reflects the trade carried out at the premises and the owners’ interests.

The pub’s banner shows Haytor rocks, a golden bell and a whippet – a favourite breed of pub owners Eoghan and Ann Kelly.

The flags this year were funded by district councillor Sally Morgan and the organisers of Craft Festival Bovey Tracey.

‘Bridget said: ‘Next year’s are being funded by a generous donation from the Bovey Almshouse Trust.’

After a summer flying above shoppers’ heads the flags will come down after the Nourish food festival at the end of August.

And, as the evenings draw in, Bridget will be busy making more flags and banners.

She said: ‘It’s not just businesses which ask for them. We make banners for festivals and private individuals as well.

‘We will be holding a workshop to make smaller flags in the autumn – more suitable for domestic use or for people who don’t want a full-size flag.’