After 100 years North Walsham Scouts have ditched their 'yellow dusters' in favour of rich purple and gold neckerchiefs.

Scores of youngsters turned up at the scouts' Midland Road headquarters on Saturday to collect their new 'neckers', marking this year's centenary of the town's 135-strong group.

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb ceremonially presented two of the scarves to the scouts' oldest and youngest active members: Geoff Vail, 78 - who has earned the title honorary life scouter after 39 years with North Walsham Scouts, during which time he held numerous positions - and six-year-old Beaver Emma Bishop.

Scouts' chairman Chris Hargest said the group had kept the same gold-coloured necker throughout its 100-year history but boys and girls had become a bit fed up with it.

'When they go away on camps it's a bit of a ritual to swap neckers with scouts from other groups but nobody wanted theirs because they looked like old yellow dusters,' said Mr Hargest.

The new neckers combine the county scouting colour of purple with a gold central band as a reminder of the group's past.

Mr Hargest thanked North Walsham Lions Club which had made a substantial contribution towards the �490 cost of the neckers.

Mr Lamb praised the work of all those involved in the group which he described as 'fantastically vibrant.'

The scouts plan to spend their centenary year working towards their dream of a new headquarters providing more space and better facilities.