Three St Albans teenagers have been presented with the highest award in scouting.

The city’s mayor, Annie Brewster, presented Harry Vincent, Lewis Mackay and Toby Scorer from the 4th St Albans Group with the Chief Scouts Gold Award at the Jim Green Memorial Hall on Thursday, February 6.

She said: "I want to offer Harry, Lewis and Toby my warmest congratulations. It is a rare achievement to receive a Gold Award and all three are wonderful representatives of their scout troop and of our city and district. Such success can only happen thanks to dedicated scout leaders.

"We desperately need more volunteers to help run our scout groups. In January alone, there were over 125 applications to join scout groups in the district, but the current leader ratio probably allowed only four of these to start their scouting career. I urge enthusiastic supporters to come forward."

The Scout District Commissioner, Anne Barnes, also offered her congratulations.

To receive the prestigious award the boys, aged between 13 and 14-years-old had to complete eight out of nine challenges, which involved accomplishing a number of ambitious tasks, from physical and creative challenges to working for the local community.

Ian Woods, Group Scout Leader, said: "To give out one Gold Award is an honour for any scout leader, but to give out three at once is most impressive. It has been six years since one of our scouts were awarded the top accolade. Harry, Lewis and Toby have worked very hard to get to their goal and are a real credit to the troop."

The troop is one of the earliest to be founded, and has been meeting for more than 100 years.