The unitary authorities of Bournemouth (historically part of Hampshire) and Poole declined an invitation to participate.

[3] The council's initial response was to reject these calls saying it had no authority to create a flag as its administrative area was not the same as the county itself.

During this time, Chris Brown persuaded the town of Wimborne Minster to adopt the Coombs/White flag regardless of the competition outcome.

[10] The flag featured quite prominently in the 2013 Dorset set TV series Broadchurch, which was in part filmed in West Bay.

Although the gold in the flag was applied by Stephen Coombs in order to follow the rule of tincture, it was later suggested that to be more significant than originally thought: The flag has also been linked to the name of Saint Wite, a female Dorset saint who is buried at Whitchurch Canonicorum.

[14] The original four final designs were selected by an independent judging panel and shortlisted for public voting.

[15] Voting began in August and ended on the 12 September 2008, although this was not held in the form of an officially constituted County referendum.

The oak leaf signifies the rural nature of this wonderful county, something most people living here are very proud of.

Blue for the sea and beaches; green for the countryside; and gold for the sand and because Dorset is a sunny place to live.