A SCOUT group whose headquarters are to be demolished to make way for a supermarket has been offered a temporary home.

The 2nd Chester-le-Street Scout group has to move from its present town centre building, under the viaduct, as it is one of several buildings that has been compulsorily purchased by the council to make room for a £12m Tesco store.

The move was to have left the Scout group temporarily homeless while it raises money to build a new headquarters at the south end of Chester-le-Street near West Lane. But now Bullion Hall community centre has come forward to offer the group the use of its facilities, after reading of the Scouts' plight.

The hall has offered space for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to meet on different weekday evenings.

So far the Scout group has raised £20,000 towards a new headquarters, but still needs to raise tens of thousands of pounds more.

Spokesman Ray Dawson said: "The money we have raised so far for the new Scout hut is just a drop in the ocean, bearing in mind we have to build a new building from scratch."

Work on the Tesco development is expected to begin soon. Anyone who can help the Scout group should contact Ray on (0191) 388 2626.