The historic flag of Wessex is to fly again outside of Wiltshire Council’s offices this weekend in celebration of St Aldhelm’s Day (St Ealdhelm).

The Wessex Society decided to offer a free flag to any council authority willing to fly it outside of its offices after the Department of Communities and Local Government flew it outside of its London headquarters on St Aldhelm’s Day last year.

Wiltshire was one of those councils which accepted the offer and will be raising the flag this week in celebration of the scholar and first Abbot of Malmesbury who died in the early 8th century.

After his death in 709 he was honoured as a saint and his feast day was celebrated on the anniversary of his death, May 25.

Wessex Society chairman Derek Pickett said: “Wiltshire is home to Malmesbury, whose abbey St Ealdhelm called home.

“We are pleased to see the county council acknowledge this great West Saxon by proudly flying the flag on his feast day.”

The flag shows a golden wyvern - a type of dragon - on a red field.

This mythical creature is first recorded as the Wessex standard at the battle of Burford in 752AD. The current design dates from 1974.

May 25 was designated Wessex Day by Communities and Local Government minister Eric Pickles last year.