UK scouts are set to leave an international event in South Korea which has been hit by extreme heat.

Hundreds have fallen ill at the outdoor World Scout Jamboree, which is attended by more than 40,000 young people from around the world.

The British group of more than 4,000, the largest in attendance, is moving from Saemangeum to Seoul, the Scout Association confirmed.

The South Korean government said it was sending water and medics to the site.

The jamboree, described as the world's largest youth camp, gathers scouts from around the world every four years, each time in a different country.

This is the first since the pandemic and is due to run until 12 August.

UK Scouts, the country's largest scouting organisation, said its group would be moved to hotels over the next two days to "alleviate the pressure on the site overall".

It added that its volunteers and others had worked to give their members "enough food and water... shelter from the unusually hot weather... and toilets and washing facilities appropriate for an event of this scale."

The group will travel home on 13 August as planned.

Parents of children at the campsite in Saemangeum, told the BBC that no activities were taking place due to the heat, and some people with specific dietary requirements were not being catered for.

One mother from the north-east of England, said what was meant to be a "great life experience" had turned into a "survival mission" for her 16-year-old daughter.

"She knew it would be hot but not as hot as it is. They cannot cool down, their tents are too hot," said the mother, who did not wish to be named.

Her daughter had told her the conditions of the showers and toilets were "appalling and unsafe", with "floating rubbish, plasters and hair" blocking drains.

The mother said she was delighted her daughter was being moved to Seoul, which is about 120 miles (197km) from the campsite.

Another parent said that they were told the the site's hospital was full and people were being treated off site, while another said the situation was so bad they put their daughter on a plane back to the UK on Friday.

"My priority was my daughter's welfare," they said.

UK Scouts has been asked for comment regarding claims of poor sanitation.

The Foreign Office said on Thursday that it had British officials on the ground supporting British scouts.

South Korea is in the grips of a sweltering summer and authorities have issued the country's highest hot weather warning for the first time in four years.

The majority of those attending the camping event are aged between 14 and 18. There are groups from 155 countries in attendance.

Officials said at least 600 people had been treated for heat-related illnesses in recent days, Reuters reported. It's unclear if any were from the UK group.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced that aid was being sent to the site amid criticism from some that authorities failed to plan for extreme heat.

"The government will use all its resources to ensure that the jamboree can end safely amid the heatwave," he said.

Air-conditioned buses, water trucks and medical staff were being dispatched.

Jacob Murray, the director for World Events at the Scouts, earlier said that the organisation was "grateful" for the extra help being sent by the Korean government.

Before the decision to leave the site was announced, a member of the UK support team told the BBC "we are putting in lots of support for our young people to make sure they have an incredible experience".

Full story here: https://tinylinkurl.com/UK-scouts-pulled-out-of-camp-after-S-Korea-heatwave