A NEWPORT Scout travelled to London to be awarded the highest Duke of Edinburgh award it is possible to achieve.

And Oscar Carrel, 18, received his Duke of Edinburgh’s gold award from the Duke of Edinburgh himself.

He was one of 12 Scouts from Wales to receive their gold awards at the ceremony and described the ceremony as a “huge honour”.

To complete the challenge he spent four days kayaking along the River Severn and worked at a children’s charity in Ulamba in Kenya, where he ran a summer camp for 200 school children.

While he was there, he climbed Mount Kenya, which he said was his “biggest adventure and toughest challenge”.

The Duke of Edinburgh award is open for young people aged 14 to 24 and can be completed on three levels. The bronze award is open to those 14 and over, the silver for those 15 and older and the gold award for those 16 and older.

For all the awards, participants must volunteer, improve in an area of sport, dance or fitness, improve skills and plan and carry out expeditions. As part of the gold award, they must stay and work away from home and take part in a shared activity.