Recycled shoes collected by Hinchley Wood Beaver Scouts have travelled 27,000 miles to Soma in Africa.

As part of their 60th anniversary last year, the beaver troop raised £315 to send old trainers and shoes to children in Gambia, with the help of an African scout group.

The beavers collected 60 pairs of shoes for African children and raised funds to pay for the postage by running a Christmas postage service around Hinchley Wood and Claygate and making and selling festive decorations.

Ian Broderick, beaver scout leader, said: “Apparently, the worker who gave out our shoes found it very moving - this would be the first time some of the children have ever had a pair of shoes.”