The Scout Association has this week appealed a court ruling on a £7,322 payout to a former Scout hurt during a game, arguing that the decision could restrict the range of activities it runs.

The former Scout, Mark Barnes, was awarded the cash in relation to an injury he suffered during a game called 'objects in the dark'.

Then 13, Barnes didn’t discover the full extent of the shoulder injury until some years later. Now 22, he was awarded the payout in January.

Patrick Field QC, for the Scout Association, argued at the Appeal Court this week that there was a "need to play games in a more exciting way" in order to attract youngsters away from their "computers and TVs".

However, Bruce Silvester, for Mr Barnes, of Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, said turning the lights off during the game added to the danger. The three appeal court judges have deferred making a decision until a later date. A Scout Association spokesman said that the organisation was unable to comment until then.