The association said it had been "deluged" with complaints from members over the ad, which shows a scout leader as grumpy, balding and with glasses.

The association said it had written to Phones4u and lawyers had said they would have grounds to pursue the case.

On Monday Phones4u apologised, pulled the ad, and said no offence was meant.

Simon Carter, head of communications at the Scout Association, said "We've been deluged by our members saying we are very unhappy about this.

"As much as anything the basis of the ad says scout leaders don't have any friends, but we've had the largest yearly increase in adults wanting to work as scout leaders since 1985.

Many other emails have reached Scouting Radio saying the ad was tasteless and outdated, many of the adult leaders are both male and female in their early 30's, not balding with glasses and certainly have plenty of friends both inside and outside Scouting.