THREE young people from Ledbury have represented their country at the world Scout Jamboree.

Liam Spence, 17, James Kerridge, 15, and Anna McAteer, 17, from 1st Ledbury were chosen from more than 100 Scouts to represent the UK as part of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire contingent at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Yamaguchi City, Japan.

The trio spent three days experiencing Tokyo including visits to a temple, a tower with a viewing platform known as Sky Tree, an earthquake simulation centre and the famous Shibuya Zebra Crossing where up to 1000 people cross a road junction across and diagonally.

Then they travelled by the Bullet Train, which travels at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, to Yamaguchi City for the Jamboree.

During the visit they met scouts from other countries, took part in water sports, visited Japanese primary schools and as part of the UN's peace programme visited Hiroshima a few days before the 70th anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on the city.

After the closing ceremony, the youngsters travelled by bus for six hours to experience home and family lives with Japanese Scouts and their family in the city of Kagoshima.

They enjoyed tea ceremonies and visits to temples and exchanged neckers or scarves with Scouts from around the world.

Steve Kerridge, James's dad and a member of the support committee for 1st Ledbury, said: "Liam and James enjoyed all of the trip but said they really enjoyed the Ho Ho or home hospitality visit.

"That really was a highlight for them.

"The scouts usually swap neckers and Anna did a lot of that.

"She came back with a very large collection of scarves and she really enjoyed that element of it.

"The world Jamboree has been supported by 1st Ledbury for a number of years so the the local community supporting these youngsters was much appreciated.

"We are looking forward to 2019 in Virginia, USA."

The three teenagers who are part of the Western Explorer Scout Unit (1st Ledbury) were selected nearly two years ago to join 33 other Explorer Scouts and four leaders for the Jamboree.

The world Jamboree is held every four years and brings together 33,000 scouts from over 150 nations.

The youngsters had to fundraise to pay for their trip, which took place in July.