The Scout Association will for the first time be holding a National Backwoods Cooking Competition, sponsored by Knorr.

The event will be held at the Ghajn Tuffieha scout centre on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Preparations for the event have been underway for almost two months.

No fewer than 23 troops are taking part in the event. From the North District there will be the Gzira, Mosta, Naxxar, San Anton School, San Gwann, Sliema, St Julians, St Michael's School, Stella Maris College and Qawra troops.

From the Central District there will be the Attard, Dingli, Hamrun, Lyceum, Rabat, St Aloysius' College, Sta Venera and Qormi troops.

The South District will be participating with the Birzebbuga, Fgura, Marsa, Zejtun and Zurrieq troops.

Each troop will field a team of six scouts. Each team will be given the same box of ingredients which they will use to cook a three-course meal. They will be cooking on an open fire and are not allowed to use cooking utensils such as pots and pans.

This competition was the idea of Martin Camilleri, scout leader of the St Michael's School Scout Group, who is also a chef by profession.

The public are welcome to visit the scout centre and watch the proceedings.

Other firms supporting the event include the Scout Shop, Alf Mizzi and Sons, PJ Company Ltd, Dennis Mizzi, Lumach, and Dical Premium Foods.

The Scout Shop will be demonstrating a number of tents which are new on the market.