A SCOUT group is saying goodbye to its headquarters of 63 years.

The 2nd Chester-le-Street Scout Group has met at its hut beneath the town's railway viaduct in South Burns since 1940.

But the area is to be redeveloped and it is having to move.

Since November, the group has met at its temporary home, Bullion Hall, but it has continued to use the hut for equipment storage.

Scout leader David Welch said: "It isn't as good as the building we have, but it is better than the group folding.

"We are closing up this weekend and we have spent three or four days ferrying stuff to different locations to house the items."

The group marked the end of the link with its headquarters with an evening recently for former members and leaders.

Mr Welch said: "We have some land but if we are going to build something similar to this it would cost many thousands of pounds.

"We applied for a National Lottery grant, but unfortunately we were turned down.

"It will be the end of an era leaving here. It is well over 60 years, with a short break for the war when the Army took it over."

The group has about 75 members, aged from six to 19.

Arthur "Skip" Carver, 90, a founder member of the group in 1927, who led the group for 30 years and is life president, had a last look round the old headquarters building last week.