SCOUTS have launched a £100,000 appeal to build a new indoor sports centre at an East Lancashire camp.

The shell of the new sports barn at Bowley Camp, Great Harwood, is being built, but the scouts desperately need cash to kit it out with facilities.

The bill for the centre is £142,000, but around £40,000 has already been raised towards the cost.

A grant for £26,000 from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and money left in the will of the late Harold Burrows, former scout county president, have been spent on the scheme.

East Lancashire County Scout Council is now asking businesses and individuals to make donations.

Council secretary Simon Nanson said the money is needed for the inside fittings and sports equipment being housed in the steel and brick building. Mr Nanson said: "It is the latest development at the site and will provide indoor games facilities to be used by campers or by people from the local community.

"We have long felt that we needed an indoor site, especially for use by campers in the event of bad weather.

"We are appealing to local businesses and organisations for support. We hope that they will consider this a worthwhile cause because scouting is part of the community and helps young people to develop."

More than 25,000 scouts camp at the Great Harwood site as do many more youngsters from local school and organisations.

Bowley camp also hosted an international scout camp two years ago with youngsters from America, Scandinavia and Holland attending.

The Salvation Army is due to run a camp at the site this summer.

Donations to the appeal can be sent to council treasurer Andrew Patton at 9 Askrigg Close, Accrington.

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