A Haringey scout troop is believed to be the first in the country to back a campaign calling for “No More Page 3” topless pictures.

The Highgate and Hornsey Explorer Scout Unit threw its support behind the campaign to get The Sun newspaper to stop publishing pictures of topless women on Page 3, just a week after GirlGuiding UK signed up.

The 25 teenagers overwhelmingly voted to get rid of Page 3 at a debate at their weekly meeting on Monday.

It was decided by the group – which includes both boys and girls – that the concept was inappropriate, outdated and gives an unrealistic view of women.

Explorer scout Jan Sutcliffe, 15, said: “Page 3 of The Sun is a major contributor to misconceptions of women in our society.

“The fact that a major UK newspaper publishes an embarrassing and distracting image every day is proof that we need change urgently.”

Unit leader Thomas Graham said the decision proved scouting “isn’t just about camping and knots”.

“We like to challenge the scouts with current issues,” he said. “It was fantastic to hear them debate a complex issue in a mature way.”