MAKING slime and sliding down a huge helter skelter in the rain may not be most adults’ idea of fun, but 13 Brownies and two of their leaders from 1st Hawkshead Brownies enjoyed themselves hugely.

They were part of a Cumbrian group who joined more than 2,000 girls nationally for a weekend of 'Magic and Mayhem' at Waddow Hall, one of Girlguiding’s three training and activity centres. Participants were able to try climbing and juggling, learn magic tricks, and have a go at science experiments and rocketry.

After adventuring all day, the seven-nine year-old Brownies camped together under a giant big top tent. For many girls this was their first night away from home as part of Girlguiding.

One highlight was an activity provided by the RAF, which challenged the girls to make rockets out of film canisters and propel them into the air.

While the weather was very poor on the first day it turned the giant helter skelter into a huge wet slide with a pool at the bottom which provided lots of fun and was voted the “best ever slide”.

Eight-year-old Lilly O'Brien, from Hawkshead, said: “It’s great that I can do Magic and Mayhem again two more times as a Brownie”, while Sophie Harryman, nine, from Outgate, loved “the slide in the rain and splashing into the puddle at the bottom”.

Unit leader Judith Myers said: “The group loved sleeping in the Big Top tent along with 560 other Brownies – it was magical.”