ASSISTANT Scout leader Francis Hindle had a date with Royalty today after going for gold.

Francis, 26, of Thursby Square, Burnley, was at Buckingham Palace to receive his Duke of Edinburgh Gold award after completing a series of tasks.

"I did most of it through St Theodore's sixth form and then got involved with the scouts," explained Francis, who is connected to the uniformed group at St Matthew's with Holy Trinity Church, Burnley.

"I had to complete a number of tasks including teaching English as a second language to local Asians people, learning to scuba dive, and completing a 50-mile hike over four days in the Yorkshire Dales."

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