THOUSANDS gathered in glorious sunshine for the biggest get-together of Oxfordshire Scouts in more than a decade.

The three-day Zodiac 09 event united 2,700 Scouts, leaders and volunteers at Thame Showground over the Bank Holiday weekend for activities and entertainment.

It was the first time the county’s Scouts had gathered en masse since 1997.

Scout members from as young as six and up to 25 camped out from Friday until yesterday and took on challenges including climbing, archery, quad biking and football tournaments as well as enjoying nightly entertainment shows.

Organiser Greg Smith said: “The idea is to bring everybody together and get them involved in things they wouldn’t normally have the chance to do at Scouts or at school.

“We’ve got about 80 activities in the showground and a big marquee which holds 2,500 people for entertainment each night.

“Oxfordshire Scouting is split up into districts and the theme is the animals of the Chinese zodiac. So, for example, Abingdon are the rats, Banbury are tigers and Bicester are rabbits.

“2009 is also the Chinese Year of the Ox, so it all ties in very nicely.

“It’s the first county camp for 12 years and it has taken 18 months to organise. It would be difficult to do one every year but we would certainly like to make it a more regular event.”

Mr Smith added: “Scouting is growing in popularity, and is very strong in Oxfordshire, but what’s constraining us is a lack of leaders. Nationally, there’s a waiting list of 30,000 kids who want to become Scouts but we need leaders, so we’re signing people up this weekend and we’d urge anyone who’s interested to contact their local group.”

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, who was at the event in his role as Chief Scout, said: “It’s a fantastic event. It’s maybe not how people expect Scout camps to be, it’s much more like a festival. We can see people having a good time and there are lots of activities and cool things for all ages.”

Matthew Kinahan, 12, from Witney Buttercross Scouts, said: “I’m really enjoying it. My favourite thing so far has been the display of the birds of prey. I’ve been going around in a group from my Scouts but I’ve also met lots of new people.”

His father AJ said: “It seems extremely well organised and there’s lots to do — we’ve been going from one activity to another.”

Seven-year-old Charlie Skinner, from the First Sibfords Scout Group, said: “I stayed up until 10.25pm on Friday and woke up at 5.45am.”

His father John said: “I think it’s been really good. It’s a case of ‘what shall we go on next?’ for the kids. I gather it’s the first time in 12 years this has been held and it would be great to see it as an annual event.”

Andrew Lovegrove, who was with his six-year-old son Tom, also from the Sibfords group, said: “There’s something going on all the time, it’s a real credit to the organisers.”

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk