Thousands of children are being prevented from becoming Scouts because of a lack of volunteers which, it has been suggested, might be caused by child sex abuse scandals.

Bear Grylls, Britain's Chief Scout, disclosed that as many as 35,000 children are now seeking a place in the movement as it struggles with its largest ever waiting list.

The Scout Association said it had actually seen a nine per cent increase in the number of adults supporting Scouts, but said it believed the biggest challenge facing volunteers was the "pace and pattern of modern life" rather than claims that child protection checks were going "overboard".

However, campaign groups claimed that adults are being put off from coming forward because they risk having the "finger pointed at them".