Sixteen councils in Sussex are preparing to take part in the largest, single raising of the Commonwealth flag on Monday.

The flags will be raised at 10am across Sussex as well as more than 500 different authorities throughout the UK. Her Majesty the Queen will be ‘breaking’ a flag outside the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey – hoisting it up the flag pole folded and opening it when it reaches the top by pulling a rope from the bottom.

Adur and Worthing will be raising its own Commonwealth flag outside Worthing Town Hall.

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Adur council chairman Mike Mendoza said: “It is vitally important to stay in touch with the Commonwealth and show our unity.”

The initiative has been set up to mark Commonwealth Day and for the nation to unite in expressing its commitment to the Commonwealth and the values shared by its 53 member countries. Kalamesh Sharma, secretary general of the Commonwealth, described Fly a Flag for Commonwealth Day as: “A most imaginative way for people in local communities – wherever they live learn or work – to join together throughout the Commonwealth”.

Charity teams will be placing Commonwealth flags at the four highest peaks in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as flags being placed in the four capital cities, at Land’s End and in the Shetland Islands, at the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and at the Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt |Ice Shelf.

Councillor Gordon Marples, chairman of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “This is a valuable initiative for an organisation that plays an important part in our lives and, with the excitement of Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just around the corner, it is great to be able to show our support.”

The flag will be raised at sixteen locations across Sussex, including Mid Sussex Council Offices, Adur Civic Centre building in Shoreham, Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton, County Hall in Chichester and Eastbourne Town Hall.

Go to www.flyaflagforthecommonwealth.co.uk to see where they will be raised.