Four of the district’s Scout groups successfully completed their annual 10km night hike competition.

Two teams from 3rd Waltham Abbey Scout Group took first and third places while teams from 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group came a joint second place.

Over 100 Scouts from all over the Royal Forest Scout District hiked from the Buckhurst Hill Scout Headquarters to Theydon Bois Scout Headquarters from Saturday, October 5 to Sunday, October 6.

Each team used maps to navigate through Epping Forest and streets while completing a variety of tasks at 11 bases along the way.

Even though the weather took a turn for the worse with heavy rain they all completed the hike wet but happy.

1st Theydon Garnon Scout leader, Jacqui Mortimer, said: “The scouts all enjoyed this event and did extremely well persevering through the torrential rain this year.

“I would like to thank the assistant deputy commissioner for Scouts, Richard Mortimer, 3rd North Weald Group Scout leader, George Faram, and 2nd Buckhurst Hill Group Scout ;eader, Michael Smith, for organising this event and the leaders from the Royal Forest District Scout Groups that took part, for helping to run it.”

For information about joining the Scouts, visit https://www.scouts.org.uk/home/