Scorching South Korean heatwave scuppers Shropshire Scouts' coastal jamboree
A scorching heatwave hitting South Korea has meant the end to a coastal adventure for a group of Shropshire scouts, as organisers arranged for them to be moved back to hotels in the capital, Seoul.
The group of about 27 scouts from Shropshire are among 4,500 from the UK - and more than 45,000 others from almost every country in the world - that have travelled to Gunsan-si in South Korea for the World Scout Jamboree.
But the event comes amid a severe heatwave, with authorities in the country issuing the highest-level heat warning in four years, as temperatures in some parts of the country exceeded 38C (100F) this week.
Around 400 scouts have reported to have fallen ill with heat exhaustion since the event began on Tuesday, some of them from the UK, local media has reported.
The UK Foreign Office said the situation was being closely monitored, while South Korean authorities have pumped millions into improving conditions including air-conditioned buses and cold-water trucks, and hundreds more sanitary and medical staff brought in.
Despite this, the Shropshire contingent, who hail from Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Leighton, Little Stretton, Lyneal and Upper Magna, are reported to be safe and well.
Prior to the announcement of the repatriation of the UK scouts to the capital, Eddie Hulme, county commissioner for Shropshire County Scouts, said he was in in daily contact with 'Shropshire Unit 87' - the Scouts in South Korea, who were "enjoying a day at the seaside".
"They are having a great time. For those who have seen today's pictures from Korea they have been enjoying a day at the seaside ."
"All the Scouts are having an amazing time," he said.
"On the opening day they only missed about an hour of the opening ceremony but loved the rest. Yesterday they were hosting Japanese Scouts, playing Twister and exchanging culture about Shropshire and Wales.
"Today they went off-site to the beach with French Scouts. They loved the beach and sea. They are back at site now busy cooking for friends they have made."
Despite this, UK Scouts, which is overseeing the British contingent in South Korea, has said it is moving all the scouts back to Seoul.
In a statement UK Scouts said: "UK Scouts are transferring our young people and adult volunteers from the Jamboree site at SaeManGeum to Seoul.
"We will start moving our people to hotel accommodation over the next two days. As we are the largest contingent, our hope is that this helps alleviate the pressure on the site overall.
"We know that may be a disappointment for some and we will continue the Jamboree experience in Seoul, working with Korean authorities on a programme of activities so our young people still get the most from their time in Korea. Young people will travel home as originally planned from August 13.
"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."
Thousands of British teenagers aged 14 to 17 travelled to South Korea for the 12-day event, which is hosted by a different nation every four years.