Fly the fflag; Red Dragon plates are no longer illegal.

Byline: By TOM BODDEN Welsh Affairs Correspondent

WELSH drivers will finally be able to display the Red Dragon flag legally on number plates within weeks.

The Department of Transport confirmed that the promised revised regulations to allow the voluntary flags are expected to come into force at the end of next month.

Although the national flag is now a common sight on vehicles, it is currently illegal and drivers could face a pounds 60 fine for displaying national symbols on number plates.

Last St David's Day, North Wales Plaid AM Janet Ryder launched a campaign to have the law changed, seven years after an original pledge by theUKGovernment to do so.

She said: "I've just received a reply from the Department of Transport to confirm that the revised regulations will come into force around end of April 2009.

"This will mean that thousands of Welsh motorists who have voted with their feet on this matter and put on Welsh flags can nowdo so and stay on the right side of the law."

Mrs Ryder introduced a Legislative CompetenceOrder (LCO) last summer to seek powers to enable the Assembly to decide on this matter for itself.

But within months of introducing the LCO, the UK Government had performed a U-turn and decided to introduce its own legislation on the matter.

Now in a letter to the AM, transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "As you know work is underway to introduce the legislation to legalise the display of national flags on number plates in England, Scotland and Wales.

"It is expected, subject to the outcome of informal consultation, that the revised regulations will come into force around the end of April 2009."

Mrs Ryder said: "I'm determined to keep the pressure up to make sure the London Labour government keeps to its promise.

"It will mean that this St David's Day is the last one when Welsh motorists will fly the flag illegally on their number plates.

"If the UK Government goes back on that promise, I will have no hesitation in pushing forward with the LCO to give the Assembly the powers to decide on this matter."

Mrs Ryder's campaign attracted more than 1,000 signatories for an online petition and on a Facebook group with more than 400 members.

The move was supported by the North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, who wrote in support of Mrs Ryder's campaign.

He wrote: "The current situation is nonsense.

"It is the result, as is so often the case, of London-based civil servants and ministers taking silly decisions without understanding, or disregarding, Wales and the other UK nations."

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: "We're working on drafting regulations at the moment.

"Just beforeChristmas, the secretary of state said he wanted to take this issue forward as a priority."

CAPTION(S):

This is what your car number plate could look like once new legislation comes into force next month Pic: HADYN IBALL; Janet Ryder AM