A Scout group in Ellesmere Port has received funding from Redrow to update its cooking gear so members can brush up on their culinary skills.

With camping season fast approaching, 1st Great Sutton Scouts have brand new gas fridges and a freezer so they can store food safely during trips away.

Scout leader Chris Marchant said: “Being able to store food safely on camp is vitally important and something we have to ensure when we take young people away. Our existing equipment was years old and now we have a gas freezer so we can store a bigger range of food on trips too.

“The Scouts spend the equivalent of a fortnight on camps each year so the equipment will be well used.”

The Scout troop itself has almost 30 members then there are 36 Cubs, 40 Beavers and the group has just started a Squirrel Drey group that has 12 members.

The Scouts partner an Explorer unit, which provides young leaders to support the younger sections and, with around 20 members, is the largest unit in the district.

All of the sections from the 1st Great Sutton branch will use the new fridges and freezer during their residential trips that can see them go away for a weekend to venues in Cheshire, North Wales and even Yorkshire.

Redrow NW’s area sales manager Caroline Thompson-Jones said: “These trips allow the Scouts to practise essential life skills such as learning how to cook and store food safely.

"It also means they can practise leadership, teamwork and communication. These are all fundamental skills so it’s great that they are getting as much practice in as possible from a young age.”