More than 3,000 girls and young women descended on Longleat Safari Park on Saturday for a day of fun and excitement to celebrate Girlguiding UK's Centenary.

The girls, plus 500 adult volunteers, all from across Wiltshire, toured the safari park before the Rainbows joined in animal activities, Brownies tried their hands at drumming and singing, the Guides battled it out in It's a Knockout challenges and ten lucky Senior Section girls flew over the estate in a motor glider.

Kaitlyn, of 2nd Chippenham Brownies, said: “The day was fantastic and lots of fun, it will be a day I will never forget.”

The girls, all aged between five and 26, could also visit all the atttractions at Longleat, with the estate's train and boat trips proving very popular.

Charlotte, of 9th Chippenham Guides said: “I thought the day was mind blowing, we had lots of fun in the sun. I loved going on the boat - I found out the gorilla has a flat screen television which he can watch sky on. Lucky gorilla.”

The event was organised by a team of volunteers from Girlguiding Wiltshire North and Girlguiding Wiltshire South and was months in the planning.

Organiser Helen Thompson said: “It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces around the estate on Saturday, as the girls were having so much fun. The atmosphere was electric.

“We wanted to hold an event which would see all sections in Girlguiding in Wiltshire get together to celebrate our movement's 100th anniversary, and this certainly fitted the bill.

“It wouldn't have been possible to stage without the help and support of Longleat, as well as a team of organisers and all the adult leaders who gave up their day to bring the girls.”

During the day a presentation was also made to Lord Bath of a new waistcoat designed by Senior Section girls aged 14 plus from across the county.

Merryn, 12, of 6th Trowbridge Guides, said:"Longleat was fantastic. I never knew there were so many Guides.

"The Its a Knockout and the maze were the best bits, especially when some of our group got lost in the maze and ran round and round.

"Some of the Its a Knockout games were quite hard but we were pleased cos we won one of them. The space hopper horses were brilliant but really hard to ride.

"We went in Pets Corner and I got to hold a snake, which was really cool. It was a great thing to do for the centenary and I think everyone really enjoyed it."