A small group of scouts will head to America for a jamboree after getting parliamentary backing.

A cheque for £1,000 was presented by Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing to Royal Forest District Scouts Council.

The money was raised during a parliamentary club dinner held at the House of Commons and will help the Epping Forest scouts travel to the World Scouts Jamboree in America in July.

Each attendee has to raise over £3,500 for the trip.

Dame Eleanor said: ”I am very pleased to be able to give this small bit of support to the Scouts. They do such a brilliant job in expanding the horizons of young people here in the Epping Forest district.

"I really look forward to hearing all about the trip to the States.”

The cheque was presented to District Commissioner Peter Fairweather and District Chairman Stephen Murray at Dame Eleanor's office in Loughton on Friday.