EIGHT intrepid Ainsworth youths have earned the highest award available for Scouts.

Thomas Russell, Kieran Wilson-Hughes, James Steele, Bryn Lewis, Jordan Guard, Aaron Ridings, Joseph Livesey and Matthew Allwood, aged 13, were awarded their Chief Scout's Gold Award at a bustling Ainsworth Parish Church.

All but one of the boys has gone through every Scouting section in Ainsworth from the age of six.

Bill White, Radcliffe District President and Ainsworth Group Scout Leader, who presented the awards at this year's Harvest Festival and Church Parade, said: "We are very proud of the fact that we have had them from Beavers right through to 13 years old.

"This is not an easy award at all, it is the highest that a scout can achieve, and not everybody will get this award as they have to put effort in to get it."

To achieve the award the boys have completed a variety of Scouting challenges and gained many badges.

On one challenge they overcame a particularly tricky problem when they found that a rail strike had been called for the first 24 hours of their three day expedition by train, bus and foot.

However, after many phone calls and re-arranging schedules, the boys completed the task on time.

Gwen White, Ainsworth Cub Leader, added: "We are very very proud of them.

"They have really worked as a team doing all sorts, working with the younger children and helping the leaders.

"They have generally worked damned hard."

Ruth Merrick, Ainsworth Beaver Leader, and Sean Butler, Ainsworth Cub Leader, also received five year service badges at the ceremony.

Bill said that he would like to thank Ruth and Sean for their service, adding: "They have been very dedicated in the work that they do, and it has been excellent."