TWO Scouts from Pembroke Dock will travel more than 5,000 miles when they take part in the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan.

Hafren Maiden, a member of the Vikin Explorers Scouts, based in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, and Richard Orchard, of Third Pembroke Scouts Troop, are among 72 Welsh Scouts who will be attending the event in 2015.

Along with another successful Pembrokeshire Scout - Ceira Wood, from Narberth - the pair are part of the Gold Diggers Jamboree Unit.

The teenagers will be representing Wales at the 12-day Jamboree, where they will join Scouts from all over world. They will also spend three nights in Tokyo and stay with Japanese families.

Fifteen-year-old Hafren said she was so grateful to be picked.

"As soon as I heard, I was ecstatic. I jumped up and down shouting I am going to Japan!” she said.

The selection process began back in August and was open to any Scouts who would be aged between 14 and 18 at the time of the Jamboree.

The Scouts now begin an 18-month journey with a series of training camps and fundraising events, and will need to raise as much money as they can to cut down the £2,995 fee.

Unit Leader David Morris said: "These young people are going to have a life-changing experience. It's a much over used phrase, but in this case it genuinely is true.

“The experiences they have, meeting the youth of the world, discussing global issues and working together for peace, will make them the leaders of the future".

"We've recruited people from every background for this, and some will really struggle to pay the fee.

“So that we can continue to make this sort of opportunity available to young people no matter what their financial situation is, we'll be fundraising like crazy over the next 18 months.

“If you see us, please help us help them".