Scout fundraiser to replace equipment lost in fire

The building had been home to the 5th Exmouth Sea Scouts since 1967

A fundraiser has been launched to replace equipment lost in a fire at a building used by Scouts in Devon.

Police said the blaze on Monday, which destroyed the hut at the Imperial Recreation Ground, in Exmouth, damaged a "huge amount" of camping supplies.

Rob Masters, from the 5th Exmouth Sea Scouts, who had used the hut since 1967, said a lot of equipment was lost, including dinghies and kayaks.

A boy and a girl from Exmouth and a boy from Exeter were arrested on suspicion of arson, but have since been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Mr Masters said: "So, we were storing all our boating equipment, buoyancy aids, canoe paddles; we lost three sailing dinghies as well.

"The kayaks we had stored in two shipping containers - the containers turned into big ovens and several of the boats melted."

The 5th Exmouth Sea Scouts support 25 young boys and girls with its activities.

The troop said it had already been raising money for the past three years for a new hut, but now it had been left with no usable home for its equipment.

Mr Masters said: "The old building that was lost in the fire would've been demolished in due course anyway - [but] we're not ready for that stage so we will need to find a temporary home until our new building is completed."

The fundraiser, set at £30,000, had made more than £3,300 by 10:00 BST on Wednesday.