Around 4,000 scouts and girl guides, resplendent in their uniforms and accompanied by several bands to the roll of the drums, marched from Floriana to Valletta yesterday morning.

This is the sixth year in which the Scouts Association of Malta and The Malta Girl Guides Association combined forces for this annual rally.

In bright sunshine, the scouts and guides, some of them primary school children while others well over 50 years of age, entertained the crowd of tourists and locals to a parade along the main streets of Valletta.

The activity began at 9am yesterday with a thanksgiving Mass at St Publius Church in Floriana. After Mass, the scouts and girl guides marched from the Granaries in Floriana, past City Gate and down Republic Street to Palace Square.

Traditionally, the march pasts were organised to commemorate St George's Day and Joan of Arc Day.

The Gozo District had the honour of leading yesterday’s rally.