DARREN Millar Clwyd West AM has called on the Assembly Commission to consider flying the St David’s flag on a permanent basis outside the National Assembly for Wales building.

He is concerned that unlike the widely recognised St George’s flag and St Andrew’s flag the flag of Wales’ patron saint is relatively unknown.

Raising the matter in the Senedd this week during Questions to the Assembly Commission, he called for the St David’s flag to fly alongside the Welsh and UK flags outside the Assembly.

Mr Millar said: “I'm extremely proud of the Welsh flag, and very pleased to see it was rated very highly in an international poll. Another flag that, of course, is extremely popular in Wales, particularly on St David's Day, is the St David's flag, the flag of our patron saint.

“It's not widely recognised, I'm afraid, around the world, unlike the Scottish saltire and unlike St George's flag. Can I urge the Commission to consider flying the St David's flag on a permanent basis on the Assembly estate in order to promote this important part of Wales and our identity?”

The flag of Saint David is normally a yellow cross on a black field, although earlier variations exist, including a black cross on a gold field and engrailed edges on the cross.

It represents the 6th-century Saint David, a Welsh bishop of Menevia and the patron saint of Wales. The origins of the flag are uncertain, though it gained prominence in the early 20th century. It is likely to be much older, and some claim it goes back to the seventh century.

St David's flag was adopted as the college colours of the University of Wales, Lampeter in 1888. It also represented the 38th Welsh Division in World War Two.

The flag consists of a shield containing a gold cross on black, with a bluebird in the centre.