Andrew Marks, chair of the National Jewish Scout Fellowship, said: "We have never experienced or come across any antisemitism in the scout movement and we have been shocked and astonished by this.

"We believe this is an isolated incident by a boy who has said some things which were totally deplorable and disgusting but there needs to be a modicum of understand that this is an isolated incident."

Simon Carter, of the Scout Association, said: "Scouting is an international movement with over 30 million youth members and works for peace in nearly every country in the world.


"The understanding and valuing of their faith and the faith of others is one of the core principles of scouting.


"We do this by providing practical activities, opportunities to work in teams, learning by doing and getting young people to think for themselves.


"As scouts, we promise to do our duty and to help other people. Clearly this child has not lived up to this promise.


"Our role as adults in scouting is to work with this child and to challenge them in this area of their thinking.


"All members of the scout unit are aware of the seriousness of the incident and are aware that such behaviour has no place in scouting or society at large."