A ‘hairy hiker’ has walked 100km in 24 hours to mark the centenary of the scout group he leads.

The Comet: Hairy Hiker credit: Stuart McGuireHairy Hiker credit: Stuart McGuire (Image: Archant)

Neil Ludlow, scout leader of 1st Arlesey Scout Group which formed 100 years ago, set off at 2pm on Saturday from the Arlesey Scout Hut on Cluny Way and visited fellow groups in Fairfield Park, Stotfold, Henlow, Shefford, Stondon, Shillington, Haynes and Wilstead, Upper Caldecote, Sandy, Gamglingay and Gransden, Potton, Biggleswade and Langford before arrived back in Arlesey 24 hours later.

Mr Ludlow, 43, known as the ‘hairy hiker’, celebrated his return to the scout hut with a barbecue.

Fellow Arlesey scout leader Stuart McGuire said: “This year there’s been two new scout groups in the area and so no one has ever walked between them all. He suggested doing it last year and I told him he was mad but he went ahead regardless.

“It’s a great thing to do and hopefully it’ll raise our profile and get more people involved in scouting.”

For more information about the Arlesey 1st Scout Group visit www.scouts.org.uk/get-involved/groups/1st-arlesey