A SIX-MINUTE film that features boys in a North-East Scout troop has won a prize at a US film festival.

It was produced by Sam Forsyth as part a recruiting campaign organised in Barnard Castle to encourage boys all over Britain to join the Scouting movement.

Under the title What Didn't You Do at the Weekend? it shows scouts taking part in open-air adventures and contrasts them with other youngsters mooching around a town centre.

Mr Forsyth, who runs a company called Teeny Tiny Films, said yesterday that he received a lot of help from 1st Barnard Castle Scouts, who assisted in the production and editing of the film, as well as appearing in it.

The film was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the movement and cost about £3,000.

The plan is to show it to young people nationwide, and there are hopes it will be shown on television in the region.

It was chosen as best documentary at a festival of short films in the town of Estacarda, in Oregon, and won $25 -£12.32.

The judges said it was a relevant and timely piece of work for young people worldwide.

They said they particularly enjoyed a transition scene in which a boy is shown kicking a beer can around a town centre. The can changes into a stone in the open air and scouts are then seen enjoying healthy activities.

Mr Forsyth, who lives at Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, said yesterday: "The film shows lads mooching around and doing not very much in a town centre.

"Then it shows scouts doing things like crossing a river, climbing, cooking on a camp fire and having a good time generally.

"Just after it was completed, I heard about the festival in Oregon and sent it off. I was delighted to hear that it had won a prize.

"I hope it encourages a lot of lads to join up and enjoy Scouting."