SOUTHEND scouts on a trip to South Korea have been evacuated from a campsite due to an incoming tropical storm.

The group are among 4,500 British scouts that headed to Saemangeum on the south west coast of the Korean peninsula for the 25th World Scout Jamboree.

However, with the spiralling 35-degree Celsius heat hitting the town of Buan, near to the campsite, it has forced more than 40,000 14-17-year-olds from across the globe to evacuate.

The country raised the hot weather warning to "serious" level for the first time in four years as temperatures were between 33C and 38C.

Originally, the scouts from Southend were due to head to Seoul after the event when it concluded on Saturday but have now moved to the capital city earlier than planned.

A spokesman for UK Scouts said: "The Southend scouts have been safely moved to Seoul. They are taking part in a revised programme of activities, such as going to football matches and cultural exchanges. They will be coming back home next week.

"The UK contingent have now been allocated their accommodation. The UK Embassy has been welcoming them as they arrive.

"The UK Embassy and the Mayor of Seoul are also supporting the UK team with developing programme activities so our young people still get the most from the rest of their jamboree experience in South Korea.

"While we have been on site at the Jamboree, the UK volunteer team has worked extremely hard with the organisers, for our youth members and adult volunteers to have enough food and water to sustain them, shelter from the unusually hot weather, and toilets and washing facilities appropriate for an event of this scale.

"We know leaving the Jamboree site may be a disappointment for some, but we will continue the Jamboree experience in Seoul. Young people will travel home as originally planned from August 13.

"All focus is now on making sure the Scouts have a great programme in Seoul."

They will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where they will see the demarcation line between North and South Korea at the end of the Second World War.

The jamboree, which takes place every four years in a different nation, promotes unity, community and togetherness.

Participants are selected two years prior to the jamboree so they can focus on fundraising for their trip.