A FORGOTTEN flag hidden away in a dusty box for the past 50 years will finally fly on Easter Sunday.

Bought to commemorate the Queen's coronation in 1953, the St George's Flag was recently discovered lying in a dusty corner of the clock tower room in Holy Trinity Church, Darlington.

But it is believed that the flag never actually flew.

Investigations by the Rev Barnaby Huish, who found the flag just before Christmas, have drawn a blank as to whether it was ever used. New, with clean white ropes, the belief is that, for some reason, it remained in its box.

The old flagpole on the church tower rotted away some years ago and was finally removed in the late Eighties. But on Sunday, attached to a new flagpole, the flag will finally see the light of day.

Mr Huish, who leaves as curate on Sunday before taking up a new post in St Albans, is delighted he will see it fly before he goes.

He told the D&S Times: "To find it again for the Queen's jubilee year is just wonderful. It may not have flown on Coronation Day but it will certainly fly for the jubilee weekend."

But its duties will not end with the Queen's special celebrations. The flag will fly on all important dates for the church, beginning this Easter Sunday.

Mr Huish, who hails from Barnet in London, takes up the post of precentor at St Albans Cathedral next month. Being only a 20-minute train journey from his family home, he is delighted his two sons will see more of their grandparents.