THERE was little time for “dib, dib, dib” or “dob, dob, dob” as cubs from across Suffolk descended on Ipswich for their annual activity day.About 150 scouts from more than 40 packs travelled to Hallowtree for a day of adventure including jousting events, battles, abseiling and archery.

THERE was little time for “dib, dib, dib” or “dob, dob, dob” as cubs from across Suffolk descended on Ipswich for their annual activity day.

About 150 scouts from more than 40 packs travelled to Hallowtree for a day of adventure including jousting events, battles, abseiling and archery.

Andrew Peck, assistant county commissioner for cub scouts in Suffolk, said the day was a chance to give older cubs a taste of life in the scouts.

He said: “The children were all nine and ten and this is to encourage them to carry on into the scouts.

“Sometimes they don't want to go because they don't know what scouts do.

“This gives them the chance to do something a bit more adventurous. It is easy for everyone to sit at home in front of the television but this challenges them to do something that maybe they haven't done before.”

Last year's activity day was cancelled due to snow and the year before youngsters travelled to London for the day so Saturday's event was the first event of its kind for three years.

Next year the cubs are expected to travel to London again on the annual activity day and are hoping to visit the London Eye and Downing Street.

It is hoped Saturday's event will encourage the dozens of cubs taking part to become scouts when they are 11.

Mr Peck said problems recruiting scouts were starting to diminish and the number of youngsters registered had gone up more than 100 in the last year.

He believes this is due to the structure of the movement changing as scouts are now aged 11-14, rather than 11-16.

He added: “16-year-olds can be a bit scary to 11-year-olds.”

Mr Peck said anyone else interested in joining should visit the Suffolk scouting website at www.suffolkscouts.org.uk for more details.

N Are you organising an event? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail: eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.