A CANVEY teenager is travelling across the globe to fly the flag for Castle Point Scouts.

Samuel Tudor, 13, is taking part in the 23rdWorld Scout Jamboree, an event held every four years, after he was chosen from hundreds of hopefuls in the county.

Samuel is the only Scout in Castle Point who will be travelling to Yamaguchi, in Japan, and is one of only 54 selected from Essex and one of 4,000 young people and adults going from the UK.

Three Scouts from Southend have also been chosen. Twins Holly and Charlie Luckin, 15, from the Colombus Explorer Scout Unit, in Shoebury, and Billy Piercy, 13, from the Second Thorpe Bay Scout Group, will also be going. The groups met explorer Bear Grylls, who congratulated them.

Samuel said he decided to apply for the Jamboree because he thought it would be an experience to remember.

He said: “I’m really excited to have been selected to join the Essex and Hertfordshire Scouts World Scout Jamboree unit.

“I’m looking forward to the sheer amount of people that will be there and the atmosphere this will create.

“It’s going to be fun and exciting that I’ll meet new friends for life in my unit and some new friends from across the world.

“This really is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I feel really proud to be representing Essex and the UK at this event.”

He had to complete a variety of challenges, including skills such as initiative and team-working, to win his place.

He will go with his unit to a series of activity weekends before the trip.

30,000 Scouts worldwide will attend the event, between July 28 and August 8.

Bear Grylls, TV personality, explorer and chief Scout, said: “Congratulations to Samuel and all the other young people who’ve been selected to represent their communities at the World Scout Jamboree in Japan.”