MANY UK children lack a modern understanding of the Commonwealth, seeing it simply as the "former British Empire", it has been suggested.

A new survey reveals that youngsters from other Commonwealth countries have a better knowledge of the international network.

In total, just over half (57%) of UK seven to 14-year-olds said they knew that the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent countries, compared to nearly eight in 10 (78%) of those living in other Commonwealth nations.

And whilst 93% of those from other Commonwealth countries said that they were proud to be part of the the network, less than two thirds (61%) of those living in the UK said the same.

The survey, published by the British Council, comes as the Commonwealth Games is due to begin in Glasgow.

The findings show that children have different attitudes towards the international association.

Asked what the Commonwealth means to them, the most popular answer among UK schoolchildren was "former British Empire" (33%), whereas for other youngsters it was "shared language, culture and history" (24%).

Fewer than half (45%) of UK youngsters said that they will be watching the Glasgow games, compared to 82% of those living in other Commonwealth countries.

British Council UK regional director Julia Amour said: "A third of the world's population live in Commonwealth countries, and it's clear that many of the Commonwealth's next generation feel that it still plays an important role in forging cultural understanding and building trust between people around the world.

"However, it's alarming that twice as many children in the UK compared to the rest of the Commonwealth see the network as the former British Empire, considering they were born in a different century to the Empire. We need our children to see the world as it is, not just as it was."

The online survey questioned 1,157 children aged seven to 14, including 357 from the UK, in June.