TEST Valley’s civic chiefs will be flying the flag for Commonwealth Day today.

At 10am flags will be hoisted at the borough council-owned Crosfield Hall and Andover Guildhall to celebrate Commonwealth Day.

Borough Mayor Janet Whiteley will head the ceremony at Andover and deputy borough mayor Jan Lovell raises the flag in Romsey.

The celebrations will coincide with flag-raising events across the UK. A total of 500 Commonwealth Flags will be hoisted simultaneously around Britain. Councillor Whiteley said: “I hope that this marks the beginning of an initiative that will go from strength to strength in future years and spread across all nations of the Commonwealth. “It signals a spirit of sharing and inclusion, which is a message as pertinent today as it was when the Commonwealth was first formed.”