Past Blue Peter presenter Konnie challenges Old Windsor beavers

Konnie Huq - who helped present the legendary children's television show for 10 years - recorded a personal video in which she challenged the beavers to complete one or more of three science challenges involving balloons. The challenges were to build a hovercraft, rocket or powered Lego vehicle.

The beavers' assistant leader Dave Wood, of Burfield Road, asked Konnie to help and she obliged with the personal video challenge.

Dave - known as Wombat to the boys - said: "Konnie was so happy to do this for us - her YouTube channel is packed with experiments and crafts for this age group and she is the perfect video presenter. My mum was her girl guide leader in Ealing, so it was great for her to do this, especially as her book and YouTube videos are so relevant for this age group."

The boys - all aged six to eight - were quick to respond to Konnie's challenge, with videos and pictures being steadily posted on the beavers' private Facebook Group.

The beavers' weekly meetings have been replaced with online video meetings during the current crisis. They have enjoyed a wide range of challenges set by their leaders and worked towards dozens of badges, both real and 'virtual'. They've made pizzas, built toy gliders, planted seeds, built towers, written books and learned bandaging.

Said Nathaniel, six: "I loved doing Konnie's challenge. My Lego car only went a couple of metres but maybe it was too heavy. I'm going to try the rocket next."

Hayden, seven, said: "I've loved the challenges Woody and Wombat have been setting us. My favourite was the pizza making one - mine was really yummy."

Beaver scout leader Emma Wood ('Woody') said: "It's great to see the boys doing these challenges. We were so lucky to have Konnie set this one and she has offered to set some more for us in future. It really helps to engage the beavers and provides them with a bit of normality and something other than school work to do at this unusual time in their lives."