A YOUNG Scout received the organisation’s top award at a recent reception to celebrate the centenary of scouting in the Northallerton district.

Martin Sandell, of Bedale Scouts, received the Queen’s Scout Award (QSA) in a ceremony at Northallerton town hall.

The presentation was made by Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

The award is the highest award a young person can achieve in scouting and is often gained in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh gold award.

To earn the QSA, scouts must be aged between 16 and 25 and have been a member of for at least 18 months.

The QSA is the culmination of everything that Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members have achieved in Scouting.

About 500s QSAs are presented each year, to scouts around the UK.