Sauropod and merman included in emoji set

Apple has released a new set of emojis – which include gender-neutral faces and an orange heart – as part of the technology giant’s latest software update.

New designs which were approved by the Unicode Consortium – an independent standards body for the image-based language – have been made available to iphone and ipad users in the company’s OS 11.1 update.

New animals including a giraffe, a cricket and a sauropod have also been introduced, as has a range of new food items such as a dumpling, broccoli and an apple pie. The set also features new flags for England, Scotland and Wales. The love-you gesture has been updated with a design based on the “I love you” hand sign in American Sign Language, and mythical creatures such as a mermaid and a merman.