The Christmas post scheme organised by 1st Midsomer Norton Scout Group attracted over ten thousand items this year, a 10% increase on 2011.

Group Scout Leader, Clare Spearman, said: "We are very grateful to retailers and members of the public who supported us. In common with most Scout Groups, subscriptions paid by our members are kept to a minimum and we fund-raise for most of the equipment we need." The group has an annual programme to replace two of its tents which cost £700 each.

Three members of the Scout Group have won prizes for designing Christmas stamps as part of a competition, with first prize becoming the new design. Two Scouts, Tom, aged twelve, and Toby, aged thirteen, from B Troop, won first and second prizes and Beaver Scout William, aged seven, won the third prize. Tom, a pupil at Norton Hill School, said that he really enjoyed going climbing with the Scouts: "It's fun and really challenging at times. I love it."