SOLICITORS Pardoes won a best marketing and promotion award after creating a competition with the County Gazette and our sister papers to choose a new flag for Somerset.

Pardoes scooped the Marketing and Promotion prize in the Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards at Bridgwater College.

The contest involved months of voting by residents and appearances by guest judges, including Dragon Den’s Deborah Meaden and a world flag expert.

The winning county flag was first flown over Pardoes’ Taunton base at Creech Castle, and is now all across the county and even on HMS Somerset.

Nigel Muers-Raby of Pardoes said: “We are delighted to win this award and also be a part of changing a little bit of history for the county of Somerset.

“This is a great example of the power of local newspapers and demonstrates the commitment of the County Gazette and its sister papers to the community.”

Alex Cameron, editor of the County Gazette series of newspapers and websites, said: “It was a pleasure to work with Pardoes on the Flag For Somerset competition.

“The company devised a highly imaginative and effective competition strategy and accompanying PR campaign. It really captured the imagination of our readers, both in print and on-line, and we were proud to help make a piece of Somerset’s history.

“Bringing business guru and TV personality Deborah Meaden on board added both kudos and celebrity magic to the whole campaign.”