Scouts are a step closer to joining a jamboree thanks to Weymouth and Portland Lions.

The club donated £500 towards the cost of travel for four young people to join the 2019 jamboree in West Virginia.

The four - Oliver Gillespie, Jacob Newport, Isabel Stainer and Charlotte Pascoe - will be representing Weymouth and Portland at the international event.

As reported in yesterday's Dorset Echo, Charlotte's painting has been chosen as the event's official artwork.

Lions President Roger Hogbin said: “The Lions are always pleased to support youth projects and this case in particular as they are also helping to fund Scouts from poorer countries.”

The Scouts said they felt 'privileged' to have been selected to attend the jamboree and they hope to make the people of Weymouth and Portland proud.

More than 50,000 people from 150 countries are expected to attend.

They said: "It will be a fantastic opportunity to broaden our horizons and make new friends from across the world.

"We are all particularly looking forward to learning new skills and challenging ourselves to try new things far away from home. To attend we must each raise £3,600, which will also contribute towards the amount needed to fund young people from poorer countries to participate, therefore, the contribution is really appreciated.

"We have also all been busy selling homemade crafts and cakes, washing cars, organising raffles and other community events and have been astounded by the level of support that we have received.

"We really do live in an amazing community. Over the next year we will continue to deliver a host of future fundraising events including raffles, fetes, quizzes and sponsored activities.

"We are all aged 14-16yrs and live locally, attending 1st Portland, Weymouth South, Weymouth East and Weymouth West Scout groups. Most of us also volunteer with younger members of the pack to share what we have learnt during our time in Scouting."