A Scout council has been ordered to pay almost £26,000 following the death of an eight-year-old boy at one of its camps.

Jack Sudds drowned in an outdoor swimming pool on the first day of a week-long adventure holiday at Broadstone Warren Scout Camp near Crowborough in August, 1999.

The youngster, who was terrified of water, was found by a lifeguard floating in the pool when he went to lock up. Attempts to resuscitate the boy failed.

East Sussex County Scout Council was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,995 court costs by Lewes magistrates after pleading guilty to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Jack was one of 28 children, including his sister Emma, at the camp with Middle Park Play Scheme, a charity group on a London council estate.

He is believed to have fallen into the water after being left alone by the side of the pool.

This is the second time Wealden District Council has prosecuted the Scout council following the death of a child at its camp.

Venture Scout Michelle Stanley, 16, died after falling under the wheels of a tractor at Broadstone Warren in November, 1997, and the council was fined £5,000 with £7,000 costs.

Councillor Teresa Blaxland, chairman of the council's Environmental Services and Public Protection Committee, said: "The council supports the work of the scout camp but is deeply concerned that two fatal accidents should have happened at this site within two years."