LOTS of people take pride in their city and even more like to boast about their country, but very few do so about their county.

Residents in Brighton, Worthing or Seaford may wax lyrical for hours about how wonderful their hometown is – reeling off lists of the people and places which help make their town special.

Few and far between sound off for Sussex despite the fact we all live in one of the most spectacularly beautiful and historic counties in the country.

Today is Sussex Day, a day when we should all reflect on what makes our town great, but probably fewer than a couple of hundred out of the county’s more than a million residents even pay attention.

Sure there is the odd cute flag raising ceremony and a handful of museum promotions – but for the most part the day will pass totally unnoticed and unmarked.

Many of our towns are nestled in the rolling canvas of the South Downs or framed against the English Channel with craggy cliff faces like something from an artist’s sketchbook.

These landscapes have provided the backdrop for some key moments in British history.

Sussex saw the last Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson march to his death at Hastings and Spitfires and Hurricanes darting overhead to defend King and Country in the Battle of Britain.

With our eccentric traditions such as the Lewes Bonfire parade and the birdman competitions at Worthing and Bognor there is so much joy to be found here.

As you sit down for your lunch break today or step out for a cigarette maybe take a few minutes to just reflect on what makes our county great.

When you think about it, we are a very lucky bunch.