FIVE scouts have been very well prepared and successfully achieved places at the 2007 World Scout Jamboree. Scouts are celebrating their 100th anniversary and to mark this the international event is coming home to the UK where it all began. Around 40,000

FIVE scouts have been very well prepared and successfully achieved places at the 2007 World Scout Jamboree.

Scouts are celebrating their 100th anniversary and to mark this the international event is coming home to the UK where it all began.

Around 40,000 scouts from across the world will descend on a site in Chelmsford next year and five lucky youngsters from the Hitchin contingent have secured places.

Philip Goose, Daniel and Sam Hankin, Kathryn Rainbow and Sarah Beadle had to prove their worth to be accepted on the Jamboree which included presenting to a panel of judges and completing individual interviews.

After a nail-biting time waiting for their results, the applicants can now look forward to the preparations for the big event.

International scouts will be put up by British families and shown the local sights giving them a true taste of British culture.

The scouts will then all join together for a big meet-up where all sorts of activities are undertaken, including learning about different faiths and environmental issues.

Kathryn, 16, said: "When I found out that I had been selected I was ecstatic and really proud of myself and the other four that I am about to embark on this adventure with.

"I am really looking forward to the jamboree and hope to have an amazing time with the others, meet new people, make friends with people from all over the world and have memories for the rest of my life.