A WINCHESTER Scout group is campaigning for funding to open its hut for community use.

The 1st Winchester Scout group recently celebrated the opening of its refurbished hut, in Fleming Road, Weeke.

The £200,000 project will see it used as a pre-school in January, and for Scouts in the evenings, but now the group is appealing for £5,000 to buy tables, chairs, crockery and equipment so that it can be used by the community.

They need 800 votes to secure the grant from insurance firm Engage Mutual Assurance, and are up against two other Hampshire scout groups - Ealing Sea Scouts in Southampton and Explorer Scout Unit in Portsmouth.

Dave Kesby, 1st Winchester Scouts leader, said: “We are delighted to welcome scouts and the pre-school in, but if the community want to use it they will need proper facilities, and that is what this money is for.”

To vote go online at engagemutual.com/foundation/projects/bigger-and-better-campaign/.