THE Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire handed over Commonwealth flags to representatives of all seven councils in the county in preparation for Commonwealth Day.

Dame Janet Trotter yesterday (Monday) presented the flags to dignitaries including Councillor Sir Edward Horsfall, Chairman of Cotswold District Council, Councillor Claire Wright, Tewkesbury Borough Mayor and Mayoress Elaine Hancock and Councillor Tony Hicks, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council.

“I am delighted, as the Queen's representative, to be presenting these flags to representatives of the county council and the district councils," she said. "The Commonwealth has changed and developed over a number of years and, like our county, is diverse.

"It is right that we should honour our collective history and also celebrate the contribution people of the Commonwealth have made in war and in peacetime to life on these shores.”

All of the councils will then raise their flags at exactly 10am on Commonwealth Day, Monday, March 10 in line with councils around the UK.

A total of 500 Commonwealth flags will be raised throughout the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man on that day.