The aunt of a Kent Scout killed in an avalanche on a mountainside in Scotland has led tributes to her "inspirational" nephew.

Explorer Scout and former Maidstone Girls Grammar sixth-former, Stephen Young, 18, from Borough Green, was on an organised trip to the Scottish Highlands with Kent-based Invicta Mountaineering Club, when he died.

Aunt Sue Booth said Stephen - also a leader with Ightham Scouts - was loved and idolised by friends and family alike, and hundreds of messages of sympathy had been received.

An experienced mountaineer and qualified mountain guide, he had been looking forward to the "ice climbing" trip for months, said his aunt.

Mrs Booth said the all-adult group had been walking along a ridge on the 3,701ft mountain Creag Meagaidh, and had been on a cornice - an overhanging edge of snow - when Stephen fell.

The mountain, about 40km east of Fort William and north-west of Loch Laggan, is renowned for its cliffs and crags and is a popular ice climbing destination.

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Mrs Booth said: "When the opportunity to go ice climbing came up he jumped at the chance - he was looking forward to the trip. They arrived in the Cairngorms on Saturday and spent Sunday playing in the snow."

She said the 24-strong group on Monday's climb were all experienced mountaineers and had believed the snow covered section of the ridge was safe.

"There were footprints in the snow, so people had been there already. I don't know whether that had weakened it. I don't know whether he fell or if it broke away, but he went over the edge. That caused the avalanche."

His mother Judy Young, 42, and uncle Andy Young, 44 - an RAF officer and former mountain rescue member - were also on the mountain, in a following group.

Some of the climbers - including Mr Young - went down to search for Stephen and discovered his body lying on top of the snow.

RAF rescue teams were called and he was airlifted to hospital in Fort William but pronounced dead on arrival.

Mrs Booth said the family were still struggling to come to terms with the loss of Stephen at such a young age.

"He was generous and kind-hearted; he lit up a room. He had the ability to get on with anyone, whether they were younger or older. He was very confident and was relaxed about talking to anyone.

"He just wanted to go and do as much as he could and gain as much experience in life as he could."

Well-known and respected within Kent Scouts, Stephen had recently been selected to sit on the organisation's county executive committee as a youth representative.

In 2007, he and fellow scouts spent every night of the year sleeping in a tent in his back garden to raise money for children's hospice Demelza House.

Mrs Booth added: "He was extremely well thought of. Whatever he tried his hand at he gave it his all.

"The determination to spend that year in a tent, when he was 16, was amazing. The challenge was only to do 100 nights each - Stephen said 'I can do it all.' If he had his mind set on something he would do it.

"He had four cousins - I have two boys and my brother has two - and they all idolise him. He was the bees knees to them.

"He collected the children from school on Wednesday; he walked down the road holding their hands, chatting away. He helped the eldest one with his spelling saying: If you get them right we'll get some sweets.' That's unusual for a young man - he was so sensitive.

"I'm extremely proud he was my nephew I couldn't have asked for a better one. For him to go so young when he had so much more to do and so much more to give; it's just tragic."

In a statement The Scout Association said it was "deeply saddened to confirm the death of Stephen Young, a trustee of Kent Scout County.

"Stephen was part of an experienced, all adult group who were in Cairngorms as part of their annual trip to the region to expand their winter hill walking skills.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephen's family and friends at this time. We are working with the authorities to support those adults involved in this tragic incident."