A SCOUT hut built entirely by kindhearted volunteers which survived a massive fire has celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Between 1908 and 1961 members of 1st Connah’s Quay Scout Group had nowhere permanent to meet but then a group of parents and local residents came to their rescue.

“They were very happy times but they needed a permanent fixture so the parents committee said they would build one,” said David Williams, a committee member of the scout group.

“The building was built entirely by volunteers and the cost of materials met by funds raised by parents.”

But it was not all plain sailing once the scouts moved into the hut though.

“The building has been through difficult times,” said David, who was a leader at the scout group from 1976 until earlier this month.

“In 1975 there was a fire there, there was a lot of damage.

“It burned the kitchen and there was a lot of damage to equipment. We recovered it and carried on.”

Now past scouts, guides, beavers and their group leaders have come together for a celebratory event to mark the 50th anniversary of the scout hut.

“We filled St Mark’s Church and then paraded from the church to the scout hut,” said David. “It was a great day.”

He added: “It’s the people of Connah’s Quay who built the hut all those years ago and now it’s the people of Connah’s Quay keeping scouting in the town alive and well today.

“We’ve also got great leaders who all put in so much effort.”

The 1st Connah’s Quay Scout Group was founded in 1908 and Connah’s Quay town councillor Alan Roberts has been a leader at the group since 1958.

Cllr Roberts, 71, who has lived in Connah's Quay all his life, said: “I've been part of the scouts for a long time and it's been fantastic. I have enjoyed it a lot and I still do.

“I was only a young man when they built the scout hut and it's great that we've been able to improve it in recent years.

“It's nice to know it will be there to be used by future generations.”

The building now has more than 200 young people meeting their every week and more than 30 volunteers involved with leading various groups.

“There’s a kitchen, toilets, a large hall and meeting room,” said David, 69.

“There’s all the facilities a scout hut requires.”

In 2008 former cub leader Sue Copp wrote a book, entitled 100 years of Scouting in Connah’s Quay, as part of a range of activities to mark the 100th anniversary of the group.

“It’s a very good group that has been around for such a long time,” she said.