Youngsters attend Scout church service

8:53am Thursday 26th April 2007

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CUBS and Scouts from the area will be playing their part in the movement's centenary celebrations.

About 40,000 Scouts from more than 200 countries will be meeting at the World Scout Jamboree in Essex, on August 1, including 70 from County Durham.

The movement has planned a year-round programme of celebrations and at the weekend councillors, Beavers and Cubs joined together at a service.

Youngsters from 1st Byers Green, near Spennymoor, County Durham, took part at the service at St Paul's, in Spennymoor.

It saw the blessing of two flags, one for the Beavers and one for the Cubs.

The group has been putting funds aside for several years to be able to buy the flags.

Following the blessing, the youngsters gave a dramatic presentation of the life of the man who founded Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell.

Ian Johnson, district commissioner for the Bishop Auckland Scout district, said: "The event is just one of many being undertaken internationally, but is special to the boys and girls who have put in a great deal of time and effort to show local people just how they feel about being part of the largest co-educational youth movement in the UK."

The Scout group was joined by Spennymoor Town Council Mayor Sylvia Plews and Sedgefield Borough Council Mayor Lucy Hovvels.

For more information on the Scout movement, including opportunities for young people and adults, call Mr Johnson on 0845-0944-084 or visit www.durhamscouts.org.uk