A TOTAL of 50 Melrose Scouts recently took part in a summer camp.

The group was one of the first to be awarded a £10,900 grant from Scottish Borders Council’s Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund.

And to celebrate, the youngsters headed to the Old Melrose Estate to camp out and take on a number of team-building activities.

William Younger, chairman of the Melrose Scout Group, said: “For the past 18 months or so it has been difficult to deliver traditional scouting activities but with the easing of restrictions, it’s been great to move outdoors again and restart our camping and bushcraft activities.

“This amazing award will enable us to expand our outdoor classroom through the installation of a large all-weather marquee. We’re also buying additional tents and other camping equipment as well as four canoes which will enable us to fully utilise the River Tweed which provides a wonderful resource right on our doorstep.

“We’re also looking to offer scouting to pupils at Earlston High and the St Boswells, Newtown St Boswells and Lilliesleaf primary schools, as well as expanding our water activities with more raft building and canoeing. We would encourage anyone who is interested in becoming either a member or a volunteer to get in touch to find out more.”