A TEAM of Venture Scouts and Ranger Guides have set off on a trans-European adventure which will take them to help the orphanage children of trouble-torn Croatia.

The 28 Scouts and three Rangers, aged 15 to 19, which make up Operation Sunrise - Croatia '98 were given a civic send off.

All members of units from Wigan, Salford and Trafford, they were accompanied by 10 adult warranted leaders.

The 20 youngest expedition members, aged 15-17 were due to join the Croatian Scouts from Zagrab in one of their Sunrise City camps for children still suffering from the trauma of the recent fighting in Croatia and Bosnia Hercegovina.

The camps are organised every summer as part of an ongoing project to help the children.

The older members are being voluntarily employed at the nearby Hope Centre, an old house which is being prepared to receive anybody still suffering as a result of the fighting, and at the orphanage in Lipik, Eastern Slavonia, featured on the BBC's Newsround and Hearts of Gold.

The expedition will stay in Croatia for two weeks before heading for Zell am Ziller in the Austrian Tyrol for a break in their return journey.

Local members of the party are leaders Peter Blundell of Mosley Common, assistant district commissioner Venture Scouts; Jane Goodwin of Atherton, Ranger-Brownie Guider; Ged O'Grady of Boothstown, Venture Scout Leader.

Venture Scouts: Michael Whittaker of Leigh, Alison Buckley of Boothstown (pictured), Martin Edmondson of Leigh, Colin Wossick of Leigh, all of Jesters VSU, 5th Leigh (St Peters); Paul Harding of Boothstown, Richard Aldred of Tyldesley, and David O'Grady of Boothstown all of the Osprey VSU (St Andrews, Boothstown).

Ranger Guides: Emma Fletcher and Lindsay Ryan both of the 6th Hindley RGU and Rachel Peak of Atherton, a member of Atherton RGU.

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