THE number of girls joining the Scouts is now outstripping the boys for the first time in the movement's history.

More than 4,300 girls joined the Scouts nationally in the year to February, compared to almost 3,800 boys.

British Girl Scouts was founded in 1909, and the number of girls becoming Scouts last year increased by nearly seven per cent.

The adventure, fun and contribution to the community in many forms, along with excellent leadership, has seen the popularity of the Scout movement in Teignbridge soar with record numbers joining in recent years.

On Saturday the Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, joined more than 600 Scouts, among them representatives from Teignbridge, in a weekend camp in Sidmouth. He flew in by helicopter after visiting other Scouting events in Somerset, Cornwall and Devon.

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