A PAIR of friends from Severn Beach are celebrating 60 years of Scouting between them.

Phil Elliott, 75, and Pete Thomas, 72, have recently been awarded their 30 year Long Service Awards from the Scout Association.

For three decades the two men have been helping to run Scouts and Cub groups in Severn Beach.

Mr Thomas, who lives in the village, joined the 1st Severn beach Scout Group as a boy in the 1950s.

Since then the father-of-three has become a Scout leader himself and has seen his two sons, his daughter and his grandsons through the Scout group.

"It’s become a family tradition. I love it the outdoor life. It’s wonderful and so good for the children.

"I am delighted to be given the award but I have no intention of packing it up," he said.

Mr Elliot, who lives in Little Stoke but travels to Severn Beach to help with Cubs and Beavers, joined Scouting in Patchway during the war.

"I went as a lad and then in about 1967 I started helping out at Severn Beach as a football coach and then I got asked to become an assistant leader.

"I really enjoy it. I enjoy the activities and the kids are worth it. I’m actually looking after the kids of some of my ex-Cubs now," he said.

Mr Elliott and Mr Thomas had their long service awards presented to them by District Commissioner Arnold Tucker at the 1st Severn Beach headquarters at Mafeking Hall in Pilning. They were also joined by the 110 members of 1st Severn Beach Scout Group and its 19 voluntary leaders.

For more information about the Scout Association visit www.scouts.org.uk