THE Red Ensign will be flying at seven sites in Ceredigion today to mark Merchant Navy Day.

They will be flying in Aberystwyth at the council offices, the town, National Library of Wales, the RNLI, the Harbour Master Office, the marina and at the county council head office at Penmorfa, Aberaeron.

Since 2000, Merchant Navy Day has honoured the brave men and women who kept our ‘island nation’ afloat during both World Wars, and celebrated our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95 per cent of the UK’s imports, including half the food we eat, plenty of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted.

For the fourth year running, Seafarers UK is campaigning for the Red Ensign - the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag - to be flown on 3 September on civic buildings and landmark flagpoles across the UK.

Parish, community, town, city, district and borough councils are all invited to take part, along with higher-tier local authorities and governments.