Nearly there! Members of the 4th Canvey Scout Group are adding the finishing touches to eight years' hard work building a £300,000 Scouting centre on the island.

Long haul - Scout leader Bradley Cox outside Canvey's £300,000 new Scouting centre, which has taken eight years to build Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 48JA21

The centre, designed to be a focal point for Scouting throughout Castle Point, is set to be finished in six to eight weeks' time.

The work has been mainly co-ordinated by Scout leader Bradley Cox, who said: "It has been a very long haul.

"Every time we did something, another problem arose, or something hadn't been made correctly. Now it's actually turning into something."

The 70ft by 60ft building includes a hall, offices, an information centre, a badge shop and a uniform shop.

Anyone who could help the group with cash donations, office chairs or a kitchen to complete the centre in Blackthorne Road should call Mr Cox on 07798 690892.

Published Thursday September 2, 2004

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