February 28, 2001 11:14: SIX youngsters completed a three-day trek to win an award which ranks them in the top ten per cent of Scouts in the country.

The adventurers, from Scout groups in Prestwood, Chesham and Lee Common, were presented with the Chief Scout's Challenge award earlier this month.

Evan Jones, Jonathan Mace, Nick Peters, Mark Wisner, James Harrison and James Bruton had to complete a unique challenge and file a detailed report on their experiences after the expedition in May.

Their task involved a three-day expedition on unfamiliar territory in Dartmoor with no help from Scout leaders.

The Scouts, aged between 14 and 16, carried their own tents and food and were responsible for their first aid.

After appointing their own team-leader, navigator, cook and first-aid representative, the boys completed a preliminary training expedition in Derbyshire with the help of a uniformed Scout leader.

The Scouts then set out alone on their Dartmoor expedition.

Anne Woolnough, of Chiltern North District Scout Council, said: "Well done to the boys. It's a great achievement and they should be very proud of what they did."

The Bucks Commissioner for Scouts, Gordon Weston, presented the Scouts with their badges on February 2.