Scouts from Mersey Weaver District – which includes Frodsham and Helsby – sampled the delights of Japanese cookery ready for a trip to the country next year.

Scouts from the district joined colleagues from around Cheshire on a day in Liverpool.

They visited the World Museum to see Japanese artefacts and also enjoyed a cookery lesson at oriental restaurant chain Yo! Sushi from head chef Peter Fletcher.

The trip came in the run-up to next year’s World Scout Jamboree when tens of thousands of Scouts from around the globe converge on Kirara-hama .

The youngsters crafted cucumber maki, chicken iso and salmon skin hand rolls.

Scout Patrick Riley said: “It was a great experience to try something new and also to get to know our contingent members a little better. Every activity now just builds up the excitement more and more for Japan.”

The contingent from Mersey Weaver included Kieron Eager, Eleanor Sumner and Ben Heath from the Aquila Explorer Unit in Widnes, Jack Murray from 1st Ince And Elton, Zoe Kimber from 4th Frodsham, Amelia Standing of 1st Helsby, Patrick Riley of 4th Widnes and Rick Wakefield from 14th Widnes who is an assistant unit leader.

Besides experiencing the Jamboree itself, the scouts will spend a few days living with a Japanese family and also attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the atom bomb being dropped on Hiroshima.

Over the next 12 months the Scouts will take part in more activities and fundraising before they board the plane for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree.