Thorpe St Andrew Town Council will be raising the flag to mark Commonwealth Day next week.

At 10am on March 12, town mayor Ian Mackie will raise the Commonwealth flag at the town hall in Fitzmaurice Park.

Mr Mackie said: 'The Commonwealth is much more than just a collection of countries, it is a family.

'The Commonwealth is a global network of shared experiences, common traditions and deep ties of kinship. It provides an equal voice for some of the disadvantaged in the world as well as offering greater opportunities of trade and prosperity amongst our family of nations.

'The Commonwealth with its global reach, economic growth and long-standing connections is rapidly becoming an important body. Here in Thorpe we are making new friends in the Canadian town of St Andrews, New Brunswick.'

The Commonwealth now has a membership of 53 nations.