Hull has been awarded Purple Flag status for the quality of the city's nightlife.

BBC: Hull city centre gets Purple Flag award

Bournemouth, Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham have all recently been awarded Purple Flag status.

BBC: Torquay at night

Sandra Hall, assistant manager of the Beach Motel in Treaddur Bay, near Holyhead, Anglesey, said the bay's blue flag status was vital to the local economy.

BBC: Beaches' blue flags at risk due to wet summer pollution

Built in the 1970s, the harbour has been given Blue Flag status by the Foundation for Environmental Education in recognition of both its effort to protect the local environment and its high standard of safety and service facilities.

BBC: Nature��s biggest treasure hunt

Given its prominence, reach and power, it is strange to note that the union flag has no official status in British law and is only regarded as the national flag by virtue of "custom and practice".

BBC: The union jack: A very complex flag

This will allow both to maintain their roles as the national flag-carriers while keeping valuable bilateral international landing rights that go along with that status.

ECONOMIST: BA and Iberia