WATCHET Sea Scout Sam Tapp is one of only 36 scouts from all over Somerset to be chosen to go to the World Scout Jamboree in Thailand in 2002.

Sam, aged 14, is the sole representative from West Somerset to secure a place on the trip - providing he can raise £2,500 to fund his visit.

Already he has raised £58 with a stall at an Easter Monday car boot sale and is busy organising his very own car boot sale for May 7 in Helwell Bay from 10am.

Car booters are being encouraged to turn up on the day and pay either £3 for a car or £5 for van, with all proceeds going towards Sam's trip.

The camp lasts two weeks and will be followed by a further week staying with a family in either Thailand or China.

Sam, who is a student at West Somerset Community College, in Minehead, said he was excited by the prospect of the trip.

But just getting selected for the camp was no easy task. He had to pass a series of tests in Frome where candidates were whittled down to 60.

From there, the final 36 scouts were chosen after spending a weekend at Huish Woods, near Taunton, where their cooking, leadership and map reading skills were all put to the test.

One exercise saw the scouts being woken up at 2am by a mock fire drill involving smoke bombs, and being asked to pitch a tent while they were barely awake.

Sam's parents, Nick and Janet, said they were thrilled he had been selected and would be doing all they could to help him raise the money needed to fund the trip.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Sam can contact him on 01984 631645.

Photo: Steve Guscott.