Ottery Scouts has a new group of leaders to take charge of its colony of Beavers after saying farewell to the previous husband and wife team.

Fiona and Stan Joyce stepped down after several years in charge of the six to eight-year-old group at the end of 2012.

But Group Scout Leader John Green said he was delighted to welcome three new leaders; Andy Dickason, Liz Johnson and Verity Nickels.

Andy, who teaches at a special school in Dawlish, is married with three young children, one of whom is currently a Beaver.

Likewise Verity, who works as a hotel services co-ordinator, has a daughter in the group, and Liz, a solicitor in Exeter, has three children who are all members of Ottery Scouts.

Mr Green said: “None of them have any previous experience of managing a Beaver section but have a common goal of making beavers fun for all those who attend and fulfilling for the adults who are involved.

“Scouting relies upon the volunteer leaders to run the sections and I am so pleased that more young people in Ottery will now have the chance to continue to benefit from scouting.”