FLAGS were flying across the region at the weekend to mark Merchant Navy Day.

Durham County Council and Hartlepool Borough Council were two local authorities hoisting the Merchant Navy’s Red Ensign flag, which has been used by the Navy since 1854.

In Durham representatives from the local marine industry presented the flag to chairman County Councillor Bill Kellett and it was flown over County Hall.

Durham has a long association with the merchant navy, with the port at Seaham Harbour established in 1828 to transport goods and coal.

Tom Pattison, port manager at Seaham Harbour Dock Company and member of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, said: "People working at sea sacrifice a great deal and often display enormous courage and I am pleased that the council is recognising the contribution seafarers make.”

Councillor Allan Barclay, Hartlepool’s deputy mayor, hoisted the Red Ensign over Hartlepool Civic Centre as part of a ceremony to show support for seafarers.

He said: “The Merchant Navy carries out invaluable work, not just during times of conflict but also for the work they do to transport goods to this country, including half the food we eat.”

Also present were Sub Lieutenant Nicola Robinson, Colour Sergeant Paul Hume and Cadet Lewis Dawes from Hartlepool Sea Cadets, along with Chris Little, the Council’s director of finance and policy.

Elsewhere, The Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery, in Middlesbrough, also flew the flag or ‘red duster’ as it is affectionately known.

September 3 was chosen as Merchant Navy Day as it is the date of the beginning of the Second World War, but that day also saw the first casualties among the Merchant Navy with the loss of the SS Athenia, which was torpedoed with the loss of 128 passengers and crew.