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Community rallies round fire-hit Scouts
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| The Cubs and Beavers |
A huge fundraising campaign is to be launched to help rehome a Scout group whose hut went up in flames.
Fire tore through the Bingley First group's meeting place in Sycamore Avenue on Tuesday, making its roof collapse.
An electrical fault is believed to have caused the blaze, which is estimated to have cost the Scouts hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"A lot of equipment that has been lost in the fire can be replaced," said Scout leader Joy Smith.
"But it's the memories and the special one-off bits and pieces that we won't ever be able to get back, like things we've made and the Scouting centenary neckchief that we all signed.
"The Scouts have used this building for more than 30 years - it's been a special home to us and other groups who have used it over the years.
"It will have to come down in this state but we will rebuild it with a lot of hard work and fundraising."
Mrs Smith praised support and offers of help that have flooded in from townspeople, organisations and other groups.
Within 24 hours of the fire, the Scouting group, which includes Cub and Beaver packs, had been offered a temporary home at the Independent Methodist Church in nearby Leonard Street.
"We're lucky we've been offered this space as a place to meet and a roof over our heads until we get ourselves sorted out and get a permanent home again," she said.
"We were so relieved when we found out the fire hadn't been started deliberatel. It would have been terrible if it had been done to us on purpose because we are such a close community here."
Despite the blaze, the Scout group managed to keep up all its Easter meetings and activities.
Cub scout Emily Watson, eight, said: "I was upset when my friend told me at school what had happened to our hut.
"I was worried we wouldn't have any more meetings but we have found somewhere to go so I'm really, really happy."
Mrs Smith said: "Scouting is all about getting out and about and on with things, and that's exactly what we are doing."
4:21am Saturday 29th March 2008
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