Scouts from across Salisbury and South Wiltshire won awards such as Chief Scouts Gold and Chief Scouts Diamond at this year's Salisbury and South Wilts District Top Awards Presentation.

The award certificates were presented by the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory at the ceremony in the Guildhall on Monday, November 27.

The Chief Scouts Gold Award is the highest award available in the Scout Section (10.5 yrs to 14.5 years) and the Chief Scouts Diamond Award is the highest award for Explorer Scouts.

For the Chief Scouts Gold, there are nine challenge badges that need to be completed: Outdoor, Adventure, Skills, Personal, Teamwork, Team Leader, Expedition, World, Creative. Activities include eight nights camping and scout craft, taking part in three adventurous activities being part of and leading teams, a personal challenge, a two-day expedition, creative and skills activities such as model making or taking part in a performance and activities that require problem-solving skills.

For the Chief Scouts Diamond Award, Explorers complete 12 nights camping and four activities from the International, Communities and Values list, the four Diamond Challenges, which include taking up a skill for three or six months, taking up a physical activity for three or six months, providing a service to an individual or the community for six months, and completing a three day and two night expedition in rural or open country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.

The Scout Troops and Explorer Units represented at the event were Bourne Valley (Idmiston), 23rd Salisbury, 3rd Salisbury (Sea Scouts), 2nd Bulford (St Leonards), 1st Amesbury, 1st Wilton, 4th Salisbury (Harnham) and Amesbury Explorers.

An additional award, the Medal for Meritorious Conduct, was presented to Robert Western of the Amesbury Explorers for using his scouting skills to render first aid to a fellow school pupil in a serious incident.

Mark Warner, leader of the 4th Salisbury (Harnham) Scouts, said: "It was fantastic that so many Scouts and Explorers achieved the Top Award in their section. These awards take a great deal of work to achieve so well done to all."