A scout from Darwen has been chosen to attend the prestigious World Scout Jamboree in Japan next year.

Christopher Kay, 14, a pupil at St Bede’s School in Blackburn, is a member of St Joseph’s Scout Group and is the only Darwen member selected to attend.

To secure his place at next July’s event, which will be held at Kirara-hama in Yamaguchi City in the south of Japan, close to Hiroshima, the youngster had to attend a selection camp, fending off competition from 70 scouts for just 23 places.

He said: “I have been privileged to be chosen as the sole representative for the whole of Darwen District Scouts.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to participate in a very special event that only occurs once every four years.

“At the Jamboree, scouts from all over the world come together to take part in varied activities. It enables the worldwide scout movement to meet up and join together in this prestigious event.

“It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb and I will be representing the UK in a special ceremony commemorating the event.”

In total, there will be 3,500 scouts going to the Jamboree from the UK and, after making it through the selection process, Christopher now needs to raise £3,225 to get himself to Japan.

With help from friends, family, the scout movement in Darwen and local businesses, he is hopeful he will meet the target. Already, local firm Herbert Parkinson has presented him with a cheque for £200.

Christopher said: “It will be a great opportunity to see how different cultures live, work and play. The main things I want out of the Jamboree is to learn the Japanese culture, experience the climate, make new friends, interact with people and other scouts from all over the world and learn new things about other countries and cultures.

“I can then share with everyone in the Darwen District scout groups my experiences.”