Two identical twin brothers have gained every single beavers and cub scouts badge after their grandmother challenged them to become the first of their kind to do so.

Matthew and Thomas Hawke, 10, gained their 37th and final cub scout badge with the Third Teddington Cub Scout group earlier this year, having already achieved every beavers badge.

Thomas said the brothers had most fun gaining their sports activities badges, and the skills they have picked up along the way have proved very helpful elsewhere.

He said: "At school we would learn stuff we had already learned at cubs so it sometimes gave us a good head start."

The two brothers achieved each badge at the same time, and Thomas said having Matthew alongside him made it much easier.

He said: "If I am ever finding anything hard he can help me, and if he is doing something wrong I can help him too."

Thomas said though the twins found some of the activities tough, it was well worth their hard work.

He said: "All our friends were really surprised we managed to get them all because it is quite an achievement."

The boys’ mother, Nicola, said their competitive nature played a key part in their drive to gain all the badges.

She said: "They are really close but also very competitive with each other, so I think because they are twins they sort of pulled each other along."

Group Scout leader at Teddington, Miles Morris, said it was the first time anyone from the group had gained every badge.

He said: "They should be extremely proud of their achievement."

The boys moved up from Cubs to Scouts this term and Thomas said they would continue to collect the badges.

He said: "We are really enjoying it and I think I like it even more than cubs."