Chippenham Air Scouts group marked the 95th anniversary of the Royal Air Force on Monday with a sponsored hike in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Ten youngsters aged seven to 14 walked just over eight miles from the Wiltshire Scout Centre at Potterne near Devizes to former RAF station Keevil Airfield near Trowbridge.

They raised £143 for the welfare charity, which offers support and assistance to the men, women and children of the RAF family.

The Scouts continued their navigation skills in the air, with some as young as 11 getting the chance to fly at Bannerdown Gliding Club based at the airfield, part of the RAF’s Gliding and Soaring Association.

Scout leader Chris Jones said: “I’m well chuffed with what the kids have achieved. It was really cold with the wind whipping across. Monday was also the first anniversary of our troop being Air Scouts rather than normal green scouts, so getting to fly at the end was the icing on the cake.

“They all came out smiling from ear to ear.”