WHAT have multi-coloured sheep, five green Vs and a boy holding an aeroplane got in common?

They are among five new designs put forward as suggested logos for the district as part of a drive to bring visitors and business investors to the Stroud district.

Drawn up by designers Bridge Associates, the logos are the successors to last year's infamous pink cow design which caused hilarity when it was suggested as a symbol.

Various people from the district have already seen the concepts - which also include a red hare and a girl jumping over an enlarged red Wow!, and at this stage are only suggestions.

Lizzi Walton, from Stroud's Rope Store Arts, said: "For me the winning one was the last one boy holding the aeroplane. It could be adapted easily, so it showed the diversity of the area.

"I thought the Wow! One was horrid and tacky. I didn't like the photographic images and I would prefer something more abstract."

Mattie Ross, Stroud District Council member and chair of Stonehouse Town Council, also liked the purple design - with its strapline 'The sky's the limit' - best.

"They all need thinking about to be honest," she said.

"My absolute no-no was the sheep - we cannot just take the logo of Stroud Town Council for the whole district. And it's a thick, woolly animal, we don't want that.

"I would just like to see one put forward and everyone getting behind it, whatever it is."

Stroud MP David Drew thought the five Vs summed up the area best.

"I think that is the most straightforward way of describing our different areas until we get to the stage of saying which is which," he said.

"I do not think the sheep did much for me. I do not really know what it was trying to say."

The project was commissioned by the Creating Wealth Syndicate, a group charged with bringing more cash into the area.

Chairman Terry Morgan said: "The syndicate agreed the best way to do this is to look at ways of improving the marketing of the whole district.

"We need to raise its profile and try to create a local feeling of optimism and confidence.

"We are also looking for a name for the district which reflects where it is what it is good at."

He stressed that the designs are only ideas at the moment.

* Stroud is known for its abundance of artistic talent, and many SNJ readers will no doubt have their own ideas for a logo. Why not get scribbling and send your ideas to the SNJ, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BE. We will run the alternative suggestions in the paper.