A FAMILY-RUN company saw its banner flying for the region after it was commissioned to manufacture the first London 2012 Olympic flag and flagpole.

Harrison External Display Systems have made the three flags and flagpoles which were hoisted for the first time last Friday at the official London 2012 flag-raising ceremony.

The Darlington-based business, which employs about 40 people, has designed, manufactured and installed an Olympic flag, a Paralympic flag and a Union Flag for the ceremony.

The hollow glassfibre flag poles have been custom-built with a fan at the bottom of the stand to ensure the flags will fly even in no wind.

The specialist poles have been used because the site of the ceremony does not tend to have high wind speeds.

A major UK manufacturer of flags, banners and display systems, the company, which is run by Adrian Harrison and was founded by his father, has been commissioned to make flags for the Tour de France, the World Cup and the London Marathon in previous years.

The company, which is based in Borough Road, also has premises in the US and the Middle East and supplies flags worldwide.

At the ceremony, which took place at noon near Tower Bridge on the River Thames in London, Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu hoisted the Olympic flag, while Paralympian swimmer Chris Holmes MBE raised the Paralympic flag. London Mayor Boris Johnson hoisted the Union Flag.

Also taking part was Lord Sebastian Coe, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell plus Olympians from 1948, medal winners from 2008 and 2012 hopefuls.

Andrew Hobson, commercial development director at Harrison, said the company was proud to be making flags for the official London 2012 flag-raising ceremony.

“We were proud to be approached by the ceremony organisers to make the flags.

“For the last 40 years, Harrison has been the number one glassfibre producer of flag poles and we still are.

“We are the only UK manufacturer of glassfibre poles and we have got contracts in France, Italy, Spain, the Middle East and America.

“We are a specialist provider and provide a tailored and complete service to our clients, from design to installation.

“We do everything from small events, like village fairs, to large events like the Olympics.

“It’s always great to be asked to do something as high-profile as this.”