Malta's scouts and girl guides held their annual parade this morning, marching smartly behind a number of bands in the streets of the capital.

The building of the stage for the Papal Mass on the Granaries proved to be a logistical nightmare for the organisers, since the parade could not, as usual, form up on the square and march into Valletta through City Gate.

Instead, the 4,000 cubs, brownies, scouts and guides who took part, marched off from various points in the capital, up Merchants' Street and down to Republic Street before marching past the President, who was accorded the salute in Palace Square.