Thailand, Chile, Australia.... and now to the humble town of Chelmsford. The world's biggest Scouting event is to be held in Essex's county town.

It marks a major coup for the borough council to host the World Scout Jamboree.

And while the British venue is not quite as exotic as this year's location of tropical Thailand, or indeed past locations of Chile and Australia, it will mean an influx of thousands of visitors and a boost to business and tourism.

Some 40,000 Scouts and Guides from all corners of the world will converge at Hylands Park in 2007.

And organisers claim that, logistically, it will be a bigger event than the Olympics or a World Cup - although it will get far less media coverage.

It will be only the fourth time the jamboree has been held in the UK and the first time Essex has played host.

And it will be extra special because it will mark Scouting's 100th anniversary after it was founded by Lord Baden Powell in 1907.

Chelmsford mayor Maurice Hurrell said: "It's tremendous.

"We think it is a wonderful thing for young people and a wonderful thing for Chelmsford, it will certainly give Chelmsford national visibility and visibility to Hylands Park.

"It can only attract a lot of business to Chelmsford. We see it being a great benefit to us both in terms of visibility and in terms of the business it will bring."

The Scouting Association looked up and down the country for a top location and settled on the town because it was well-positioned with good transport links.

The council was approached by the association about two years ago with a presentation requesting the use of the park and why it would be the ideal location.

Published Friday, January 10, 2003

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