A PLAN to build a £148,000 sports centre at a popular Scout camp has been given a major boost by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

The East Lancashire Scouts Council are hoping to build the new indoor centre and wet weather shelter at its flagship Bowley Camp, in Great Harwood. And the organisation has just been awarded a grant for £26,000 from the foundation to help pay for the building.

But the Scout leaders expect to hear next month if a much bigger bid for National Lottery cash has been successful.

If the National Lottery agrees to foot the whole of the bill for the new centre, then the Scouts Council will return the cheque to the Foundation for Sports and Arts.

Frederick Law, vice-president of the East Lancashire council, said: "We will have to wait until June for the decision from the National Lottery before we decide what we are going to do.

"There is no point using the money from the Foundation if the National Lottery agrees to fund the whole project."

More than 25,000 Scouts camp at the Great Harwood site each year and many more youngsters from local schools and organisations visit Bowley.

Bowley is also hosting an international event this year and Scouts from America, Scandinavia and Holland are expected to take part.

Mr Law said: "We want our camp site to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

"If we get the new centre, we will be able to offer so many more activities, such as indoor athletics, basketball, badminton and volleyball."

He added: "We are over the moon with the Foundation's award. Hopefully, it will help us to start construction work on the project in the late Summer."

The foundation have made 404 awards totalling more than £5 million this month to sports and arts groups across the country. The organisation is funded by the Pools Promoters' Association.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.