The operation is an Education Ministry scheme in honour of His Majesty the King's 79th birthday tomorrow.

"There are 50 badly-damaged schools in Ayutthaya. They need repairs and cleaning before classes can resume," ministry permanent secretary Jaruayporn Thoranin said.

The schools getting the scout treatment are at Muang Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sena and Bang Ban districts.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn saw the 80-vehicle scout convoy off from the capital.

"They are a good example for other youths," he said.

British athlete drowns in triathlon

A British athlete drowned during the swimming leg of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon yesterday morning.

William Scott Stewart, 43, was participating in the race in Thalang district in which there were about 1,000 competitors from around the world.

The leg was about 1,800 metres of sea and lagoon swim.

Stewart got into difficulty and was pulled from the water but was pronounced dead at Krungthep-Phuket Hospital.

Stewart had competed in a triathlon in Singapore before arriving in Thailand. The body will undergo a post mortem.

WTO money sought for vaccines

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking US$2 million (Bt71.54 million) from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to manufacture bird and human influenza vaccines.

Disease Control Department director-general Dr Thawat Suntrajarn said yesterday the FDA would submit a request by December 10. "The WHO money will be used for the preparation stages," he said.