RECORD numbers of girls in North East Wales are joining the UK Scout movement.

A surge of more than 50 new girl Scouts means there has been a 27% increase in females over the past 12 months.

In the UK, girls have been part of the organisation since 1976 and this year female membership in North East Wales is 219.

Female leadership is also booming, with women now making up around 48% of all adult volunteers in the region.

But it’s not only female membership on the increase – the entire movement, from six to 25 year-olds, is expanding for the fourth year running.

Increases locally are due to development work being undertaken which is opening more groups making Scouting available to more young people.