WALKING eight miles in the dark paid off for Scouts who won a hiking competition for the first time since 1985.

Thirteen-year-olds Liam Kennedy, Aisha McLean, Jamie Brown and 14-year-old Jordan Emery, from the 3rd Barnehurst Scout Troop, competed against 12 other teams from Bexleyheath, Bexley and Barnehurst.

They had to navigate a circular eight-mile route from a farm in East Grinstead, West Sussex, through the night to win the competition.

The Scouts were presented with their prize, the Haslehurst Challenge Shield, by Bexleyheath district Scout commissioner Gary Whitehead last Friday at their hut in Barnehurst Road, Barnehurst.

Scout leader Paul Cooper said: "This is a fantastic achievement for 3rd Barnehurst Scouts.

"Their hard work for this event has really paid off."

The junior team of Martin Stephens, Oliver Devito, Ryan Kennedy, all 11, and Andrew Mills, 10, were runners-up in their hiking competition.