ALTHOUGH it wasn't easy, a winner of the Touch the Tour flag design competition has been decided.

Judges from the Worcester News, Sanctuary Group and Local Enterprise Partnership spent time considering all 135 entries, all of which were well thought out and creative.

But judges believed nine-year-old Jake Fletcher's design perfectly captured Worcestershire and the Tour of Britain event in his simple yet colourful design, fulfilling the competition brief.

The Perdiswell Primary School pupil's design will now be made into a full-scale flag which he will use to wave off cyclists competing in the Tour of Britain when it leaves from Worcester on Wednesday, September 10.

Jake's mother, Leanne, said: "I am over the moon for Jake.

"When I called Jake to let him know he had won the competition he was so pleased with himself. He commented on how he was concentrating and paying attention in class to make his flag a good one.

"He is really excited about having the flag made into a real one and waving off the cyclists when they pass through Worcester."

Sophie Atkinson, Sanctuary Group’s director of corporate governance and legal services, was one of the competition judges.

She said: “The level of entries we had was fantastic which made it that much harder to choose the winner. In the end it was between three designs but Jake’s just stood out to us. He had taken into account the meaning of Worcestershire by using the background of the local flag while including some reference of the Tour of Britain is coming to the county.

“A huge thanks goes to all those who entered the competition. We look forward to seeing you out in force supporting the riders at the race in September.”

Cyclists taking part in the tour leave at 10.30am from The Hive before travelling through the city centre via The Butts and then along City Walls Road, Deansway, and New Road before heading up through St John's and Rushwick to Leigh Sinton.

Cyclists will pass through Malvern Link, Barnards Green, Welland and Upton then on to Pershore, Evesham and Broadway before passing into Gloucestershire and finishing in Bristol.

This year the Worcestershire leg of the tour is hosted by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership with support from Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council.