Scouts from across East Cambs came together on Sunday to celebrate St George’s Day at Ely Cathedral.

Ely Standard: Isabelle, Jenny and TeganIsabelle, Jenny and Tegan (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Balloons are released outside Ely CathedralBalloons are released outside Ely Cathedral (Image: Archant)

The annual service saw in excess of 400 members of Ely District Scouts parade from the city’s Cherry Hill to the Cathedral to mark the 450th anniversary of their patron saint’s birth.

The service was also used to mark 100 years of Scouting in the Ely area. To mark the start of the centenary celebrations, 500 balloons were released on the cathedral’s Palace Green, one for each Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer Scout in the district.

In the past 100 years, more than 9,000 young people have taken part in Scouting in the Ely area, earning themselves in excess of 150,000 badges and spending a massive half a million nights away on camps and sleepovers.

Scout leader Chris Beale said “It was brilliant to see so many people turn up to the parade and to support the Scouts. The weather held off and it was great to see all of the young people form up after the service to release the balloons, it really was an impressive sight.

“We are currently thinking up ideas on how we can celebrate our 101st birthday.”

If you’d like to help Scouting in Ely thrive for the next 100 years, visit www.scouts.org.uk and get involved in the adventure.