A COMMUNITY project led by a village scout group has been blighted by thieves and vandals.

The 1st Burnmoor Scout Group, in Fence Houses, near Chester-le-Street is transforming the land around its hut into a garden and woodland for people in the area.

Young people and families are working on the scheme, which will benefit pupils at nearby Woodlea Primary School and elderly care home residents.

But the project suffered a major setback on Sunday when electric cabling was stolen from the site, hours after it was laid.

 

Only last week, the scout hut was damaged when yobs hurled a half brick and smashed a window.

Group scout leader Allan Forster said: “Trying to keep people motivated, and give up hours and hours, and days and days, when things like this happen is very hard. It really knocks them back.”

In June, vandals slashed a new polytunnel installed to help youngsters and schoolchildren in the area learn more about nature and growing plants.

Compost has been also stolen and damage has also been caused to a trailer stored on the site.

1st Burnmoor Scouts was formed in 1929 and had several homes before its headquarters, Robert Forster House, named after Allan Forster’s grandfather, who was also a group scout leader, opened in 1975.

There currently more than 90 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

Nine-year-old Alix Bell, of Maplewood Street, in Fences Houses, who attends Woodlea Junior School, has been a member for three years.

She said: “It is fun coming to scouts and everyone who comes is happy that we have it in the village. When things like happen it makes us sad.”

Alix’s mother, Vicky Bell, is Beaver leader with the group.

She said: “It is very disheartening. We take time out of family life to come and work down here and there are people who come down to ruin because they have got nothing better to do.

"I don’t think they realise that we are doing this for future generations and one day their children might want to come down to use it.”

Mr Forster called on the community to help catch those behind the theft and damage caused.

He said: “It is imperative that these people are found and people tells us who is doing this because they are damaging a great community project.”

Police are investigating and anyone with information is asked to call 101.

The group are now appealing for donations towards repairs, which people can do by logging on to: localgiving.com/charity/1stburnmoorscouts