STORAGE problems are proving a headache for Kempsey's expanding Scout group since it acquired £4,000 worth of new camping equipment with the aid of a Lottery grant.

The group used to meet in the community centre, where it has the use of a separate brick building for storage, but this is not so convenient now that the 36 Cubs and 12 Beavers meet at the Youth Centre at Plovers Rise.

Now they have appealed to the parish council to let them have more storage space at the youth centre, which has just acquired a new store for its portable skate ramps.

They have been offered some space in the skate ramp container, but say this is not enough and the council is worried that there is not enough room to add another large storage container without encroaching on the football pitch.

"They have asked if we could get one double the size and they would pay the extra, or if they could have a new storage space at the youth centre," said Neville Brookes at Monday night's meeting.

Afterwards, the group's treasurer, Betty West, said the old equipment had deteriorated, partly because it was piled up in the store at the community centre and had been attacked by mice.

"The problem is that you have to take everything out to find out what you have got. We need more racking and it would be easier if it was where we meet," she said.

"We have more than £5,000 worth of equipment and some of it is being stored in a leader's garage, but we have got some money to buy new storage."