PICTURES: Bear Grylls arrives by helicopter to meet scouts in Ewell

Grylls, Chief Scout and TV survival expert, whose latest series, The Island, launched last week, touched down in playing fields at Nescot College in Ewell at about 1pm.

He met excited cubs, scouts and parents at the Epsom and Ewell Scouts District annual football tournament.

Neil Dallen, leader of 7th Epsom (Methodist) Scout Group, said there was huge excitement among the children as Grylls landed.

Mr Dallen said: "It was a bit difficult to keep the football going when Bear Grylls arrived. They decided the football was not as good as a helicopter coming down. It was great fun especially for the kids."

Of Grylls' role as Chief Scout, Mr Dallen said: "He is a great ambassador. People know him from TV and to have him associated with scouting is good news.

"Kids especially like the sort of things he does. It’s full of imagination and fun, which is what scouting is about."

Grylls is known for surviving in the wild on hit TV shows Man Vs Wild and Born Survivor. His late father taught him to sail and climb on the Isle of Wight and he trained from a young age in martial arts.

He went on to spend three years in the British special forces where he perfected many of his survival skills.

Photo: John McMurtrie

Photo: John McMurtrie

Photo: John McMurtrie

Photo: John McMurtrie