LEFT homeless by the fire which severely damaged their scout hall last week, Cardenden's 4th Fife scouts are hoping that the tight knit ABCD community can help them keep fully going while their base is repaired.

Scout leader Michelle Gray this week spelled out the impact of last Monday night's blaze at their Cardenden Road home.

With the arrival of spring a host of activities will be going ahead involving the three elements of the 4th Fife but the fire destroyed their canoes and camping items, among other important things.

Said Michelle: "Our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have been left with the loss of all of our equipment and although we can relocate our sections to another facility, we won't have our own belongings which are imperative for us to provide our programmes.

"The children work towards achievement, gaining badges and recognition for the life skills they learn and the news has been sad for them to learn."

Michelle added: "The Leaders and Executive members had been busy fundraising with work to the outside of our hall due to start with disabled ramps being installed and pathway maintenance taking place.

"We recently managed to upgrade our facilities with new disabled toilets and a new kitchen, we secured grants and fundraised along with the children, to fit new windows, central heating, insulation and even get a new mini bus.

"To have all our hard work gone in one evening, leaving all we have achieved for our community hall badly burnt, along with water and smoke damage".

But Michelle knows that the 4th are very popular in Auchterderran, Bowhill, Cardenden and Dundonald: "We are one of the oldest scout groups in our district, and scouting has played a huge part in the village for over 90 years, indeed, our hall was donated by the coal miners.

"We are asking for people's help. Although it is too early to assess the full extent of the damage we have a huge task in front of us to replace everything in our hall/meeting rooms/store cupboard etc.

"Firstly we need to provide the essentials to the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts so we can continue to operate.

We know this is a huge task, we would like to thank everyone for their ever growing support." And treasurer Rosemary Wallace added: "We held a very positive leaders and executive meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss the next steps.

"We are fortunate in that all sections are going to be able to meet at the Bowhill Centre which means the activities can continue while the hall is out of action.

"Thanks must go to Margaret King and the management committee of Bowhill Centre for setting this up for us so quickly .

"We will be distributing a poster which we hope will reach across the village and Kinglassie this week alongside the collecting cans which are due to arrive by Wednesday.

"Everyone's support has been so solid and is greatly encouraging."