International scout jamboree returns to Chelmsford

The Essex International Jamboree is held every four years at Boyton Cross, just outside Chelmsford

A global gathering of 10,000 scouts and guides will return to the East of England this summer after eight years.

The Essex International Jamboree will take place at Boyton Cross in Roxwell, near Chelmsford, from 27 July.

The week-long event is usually held every four years - but was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Organisers said it promised to be an "unforgettable experience", providing "skills for life and memories to last a lifetime".

The first international jambouree in the county was held in 1947 at Danbury Park, Chelmsford.

It will have a selection of adventurous, creative and cultural activities planned in line with the Scout and Guide Programme, organisers added.

Thousands of scouts are expected to gather on the 120-acre field for the first time in eight years

Planners also hope to recruit up to 1,500 volunteers for the event on the 120-acre (48.5h) greenfield site.

A statement from organisers said: "EIJ2024 promises to be an unforgettable experience, providing skills for life, building new friendships, and memories to last a lifetime.

"We already have bookings from many overseas groups and volunteer staff, so it truly is an international experience."

The event in 2020 was scheduled to take place between 1 and 8 August and would have involved participants, leaders and volunteers from more than 30 countries.