SOMERSET has a new spring in its step thanks to an imaginative marketing logo, which incorporates the strains of Vivaldi.

The leafy visual identity has been designed to compliment the pastoral image of Somerset. The logo has four variations to match the changing seasons - spring, summer, autumn and winter - which, in turn, reflect the themes of Vivaldi's classical masterpiece.

Halo Media Communications has actually designed the logo to visualise the music.

This is the first time that Somerset County Council has opted for a logo to boost its image. It aims to raise the profile of Somerset as a holiday destination and to keep up-to-date with the heavy competition from its well-established neighbours, Devon and Cornwall.

Nick Ellis, Halo Media's creative director, said: "It was a ground-breaking move for Somerset County Council to ask us to realise a brand that would unify all the various regions within the county, under a single branded identity.

"Since the Second world war, Somerset has struggled to put itself on the tourist map.

"As a result, we approached the concept with fresh eyes and tried to develop a logo that reflected the sights, sounds and smells of this very beautiful landscape."