SCOUTS from across Hereford and Worcester have enjoyed a "mind-blowing" experience at the world Scout Jamboree.

36 Explorer scouts from the two counties, known as Unit 43, went to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Yamaguchi City, Japan earlier this summer.

The youngsters were selected from 100 scouts to join the trip which included a visit to Tokyo before the Jamboree in Yamaguchi city.

During the trip, they visited 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.

They also used the Bullet Train, which travels at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, 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.

The contingent were known as the Apples and Pears in a reference to the fruit popular in the two counties and included two Scouts from Worcester, two from Pershore, 11 from Malvern, 10 from South Marches, two from Kidderminster, six from Redditch and two from Ross-on-Wye and one from Bromsgrove.

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.

Chris Ruffe, deputy Hereford and Worcester contingent leader, said: "About 100 kids turned up for the selection process which involved looking for leadership and bonding skills.

"Then we embarked on a programme of training before we went.

"The trip itself was quite mind-blowing culture and temperature wise.

"It's probably one of the further jamborees we can go to anywhere.

"Some of them hadn't flown or been abroad and then to meet 33,000 scouts from around the world.

"That would never happen for these kids again."

Mr Ruffe, who is known as Tosh, also had to go through a selection process to accompany the trip as leader.

He said: "We stayed with Japanese families and that was very significant too. It took us out of our comfort zones and put us in twos in families where perhaps they spoke very little English.

"The experience was fantastic.

"Many came back with a different mindset. The Japanese people are so respectful to each other, even the youngsters.

"One scout said 'I feel very humble and want to take Japan home with me.'"

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.