Thousands of Scouts and Guides from across the will descend on Cirencester park over the next two weekends.

3,500 Scouts and Guides will decent on the park as two national events take place in the town for the fifth year running.

Strategy and Evolution are challenge events for Scouts and Guides from across the UK, who battle it out to have the winning game plan.

The events, which made their home at Cirencester Park in 2015, have now welcomed nearly 7,000 young people from across the UK.

Strategy, aimed at 10 to 14 year olds, test their ability to get strategic across a 3,000 acre ‘play area’, split between 30 bases in eight hours of adventure.

Evolution, for 14 to 25 year olds, pushes their skills through a 12 mile hike around the Cotswolds with fewer, but larger challenges, along the way.

Strategy and Evolution were thought up to give young people from across Gloucestershire and beyond the opportunity to gain new skills, make new friends and have the adventure of a lifetime.

Lewis Dangerfield, event director said: “The events really help put traditional scouting skills back on the map, alongside their modern equivalents.

"This is about providing real adventure across an incredibly beautiful part of the county, with members joining us from across the UK.

"I’m so proud of the team that put these events together each year and look forward to the adventure continuing for many years to come.

"Strategy and Evolution embraces the idea of youth-led events with the challenges thought up with the support of young people and with them at the helm of our events.”