TODAY is Sussex Day - but you'd be forgiven for not noticing.

The celebration of all things Sussex was the idea of Ian Steedman, from Worthing, who believed a day should be set aside to honour our home county which sees towns and villages raise the county flag and recite the county charter.

However, as the founder of the idea the 66-year-old thinks more should be done to celebrate Sussex - a county which is “older than England itself” and is "mystical" and "beautiful".

Sussex is at the forefront of English history from landmark battle of Hastings which started the Norman Conquest in 1066 to its skies becoming the theatre of war for the RAF and the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.

The Kingdom of Sussex was established in the fifth century and the first king was Aelle of the South Saxons.

The county stood as its own kingdom, sharing near identical borders to the current county lines, until submitting to neighbouring Wessex in 825.

The Brighton-born Mr Steedman said: “Sussex can be a mythical sort of place full of legends, monsters, ghosts and dragons – it is a very old area and a former Saxon kingdom.

“The British as a rule do not celebrate. I bet more people know about American Independence Day than they do about St George’s Day."

Sussex Day is based on St Richard’s Day, the county’s patron saint, and marks the anniversary of his body’s movement from its original burial place to a shrine at Chichester Cathedral.

Mr Steedman said: “Sussex is a county full of contrast, fantastic seaside resorts and so much history. I would like to see more people celebrate it – it would be nice if they can teach the history in school.

“We boast about towns but generally we do not boast about counties unless it was somewhere like Cornwall.”

The day was first ratified by West Sussex County Council after a campaign by Mr Steedman and the at time council leader, now Crawley MP, Henry Smith.

Events will be happening across the county to mark Sussex Day such as the Sussex flag being raised including at Lewes Castle.

The Redoubt Fortress in Eastbourne will be opening its doors to visitors for free.

The Pavilion in Eastbourne will also be running two free guided tours at 11am and 2pm at the Summerdown Camp exhibition and at 6pm at Chapel Green in Crowborough the town council are hosting an evening of entertainment.