41 badges and counting: Bolton 10-year-old chases Cub Scout national record

Harry Mathieson, aged 10 and a half from Bolton, has been wearing his Cub Scout uniform with pride after earning an unprecedented total of 41 activity badges.

The unusual feat was achieved as the Cub collected all 37 available activity badges before the Scout Association introduced four new badges.

Harry also managed to collect the new ones just before the association removed five of the old badges for good, meaning the Bolton boy may be the only Cub in the country to ever hold a record of 41 badges.

Dad Guy Mathieson, who is an Assistant Cub Scout Leader at Harry's section the 19th Bolton (Bolton School) Scout Group, said: "We think he's the only one to get 41 and the only one who ever will because you can't get the cancelled badges anymore.

"He's the only one we are aware of who's done this. We've been researching it and he's certainly the first the scout Association has ever heard of.

"I'm really, really proud of him. He's been really enthusiastic about collecting the badges and has got involved in all sort of activities."

Harry, who is a Year Six pupil at the Junior School of Bolton School Boys Division, join his Scout Group in Easter 2012.

Keen to beat his 14-year-old brother Elliot's collection of 17 badges, he has been taking part in individual activities, as well as working with his fellow pack members, to rack up his badge count.

Among his achievements have been horse riding, taking up martial arts, learning DIY at B&Q, cooking on an open fire, and learning how to tie the best knots.

The challenge has also taken him out and about too, from visits to Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry to Vancouver Island in Canada.

Many of his badges have been sown onto his Cub Scout uniform, which he displays proudly alongside seven Challenge badges.

Harry's achievement comes at as19th Bolton celebrate its Centenary year, and he was awarded his 40th and 41st cub activity badges at a special Cub Scout assembly at the junior school.

"I feel like it's a really good achievement," he said

"It's a really great pleasure to have all the badges and to have them to look at as a memory of the Cubs.

"Nobody else can have that many badges, which is great."