SCOUTS from Weymouth joined thousands more from around the world to witness a historic ceremony.

Four members of the town's Weymouth South troop attended the inauguration of new celebrity Chief Scout Peter Duncan.

The former Blue Peter presenter is only the ninth person to hold the position in the movement's 97-year history.

He was anointed at Gilwell Park, Essex, in front of 5,000 Scouts from across the world.

Mr Duncan, 51, will lead the Scouts through their centenary in three years time, when the massive World Scout Jamboree comes to the UK.

Weymouth South Scout leader Ian Etheridge said he had been lucky to secure four tickets for the ceremony.

He said: "It was an important and exciting day for scouting and we were very fortunate to be included on the guest list.

"Peter Duncan heads up the organisation at its time of greatest change - the new uniform, completely new programme, opening to the female members are just some of the areas of change, activities that meet the demands of the young people of today."

Weymouth troop members George Lewis, Callum Rees, Chris and Tom Lewis, along with co-troop leader Debbie Shaw, managed to win the Chief Scout's competition, taking home limited edition badges and woggles after staging a fair trade picnic.

The 50-strong group has celebrated its diamond jubilee this year, which saw them open a second troop and welcome six girls.

Boer war veteran Robert Baden-Powell founded the Scouting movement in Dorset in 1907.

After organising a camp for 20 boys on Brownsea Island near Poole, he began issuing a set of activity guidelines which have since spread to more than 200 countries around the world.