A SCOUT group is appealing for help from a company to support its £50,000 fundraising campaign to replace an ageing hut.

The 1st Hullbridge Scout Group meets at its hall next to St Thomas’s Church in Hullbridge, but it has no running water or toilet facilities and needs rewiring.

Cindy Nobes, whose eight-year-old son Harley attends Cubs there, is hoping businesses will come forward with a cash injection for the appeal.

She said: “The group has been fundraising for a while now, but while every penny counts, it comes in dribs and drabs. The children and parents can only do so much.We need more help, maybe from a local company.

“The hall has no running water or toilet and the children have to go across to the church to use the toilet there. The children make lots of things and there is no water for them to clean up afterwards. It needs pulling down.

“So many children go there and it’s so good for them, it gives them something to do, they are learning new things and they learn respect. Harley has been going for five years and loves it.”

The timber-framed hut caters for children from Beavers through to adventure Scouts.

It was originally donated by Kent Education Authority after it had finished using it as a temporary classroom. The building was taken apart and rebuilt, piece by piece, on its current site in Thorpedene Avenue.

Stephen Buttifant, executive committee member for funding of the group, said: “1st Hullbridge Scout Hut has served the group and the local community well for generations.

“Considering its age and the massive amount of use it has had, the hut has lasted unbelievably well. But time has finally caught up with our building and we now need to renew it.

“It is now considered to be unfit for purpose with supports to the ceiling rotting and the timber floor supports rotting. There is no disabled access or proper insulation. The task at hand is massive and we are currently thinking this will be a four to five-year campaign to raise the estimated £50,000 funding.”

If you can help, contact Mr Buttifant by e-mail on buttifants@yahoo.co.uk or call 01702 231027.