Cr Ray Boulger said the gift would be exactly what the lottery kitty was for to provide funds which would not be provided out of the rates. Cr Alan Collinge hoped the council would look on it as an investment in the future youth of the town and not a grant going to be fritted away. It would be helping towards encouraging them to become good citizens with a social conscience, he said.

Following the fire the council made a grant of £300 towards meeting the cost of replacing damaged equipment owned by the scouts.

Local fund raising efforts by the scouts have so far raised over £2,000 and West Sussex County Education Committee is giving them another £5,300. the scouts are keeping the rebuilding costs to a minimum with considerable voluntary effort from among parents and friends of the group.

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