The rain may have stopped daredevil adventurer Bear Grylls arriving into Harpenden by helicopter but it was not going to dampen the spirits of hundreds of scouts who greeted him on Sunday.

A swarm of excited youngsters calling out for autographs surrounded the Chief Scout and international explorer when he came to Crabtree Fields Scout Headquarters in Waldegrave Park as part of his whistle-stop tour of the county.

During the visit Bear, who is on a mission to get more adults to volunteer for Scouting, got involved in a range of outdoor activities and rehearsed with the Harpenden and Wheathampstead Gang Show ahead of their variety performance in January.

Show producer Ewan Murray said: “It was not very difficult to get all 600 kids coming along. They were all very excited in the run-up and on the day itself. For many young people they see him do all these adventurous activities and he is a role model.”

He added: “He is an inspirational guy and it was a fantastic opportunity for them to meet him.”