STAFF at a March store have received a special salute for being good neighbours to dozens of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

The Anglia Co-operative foodstore in Badgeney Road is on course to raise over �400 for the 1st March Scout Group this year.

The latest instalment for the group – which meets just across the road from the store – was a cheque for �256, the proceeds of a Pick Up A Penny campaign launched in the Cambs Times in the summer.

The cheque was presented by deputy manager Deb Steward and follows a raffle which raised almost �80. She said: “We have another raffle planned and, with Christmas card donations from the staff and another fund raiser to come, we hope to raise more than �400 for the group.

“Our customers have been very generous with their support. With our Pick Up A Penny campaign we gave 1p for every till receipt collected over six weeks – and our customers responded by handing in over 25,000 of them!

“It’s lovely to think we’ve been able to give the group so much help, because they provide fantastic activities for so many young people.”

The 1st March Scout Group caters for more than 100 youngsters aged from six to 18, within its Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer groups. Scout leader Rosie Simmonds said: “We’re so delighted the store chose us as their cause for the year and we are very grateful for the money.

“It will go into our property building fund. It costs us �2,500 a year just to run the hall and keep it open for our young people; the store’s fund raising would pay for half our insurance costs, which are almost �800 a year. We’re so appreciative.”

The group’s Badgeney Road headquarters is the meeting place for Beavers and Explorers on Tuesday evening, Cubs on Wednesday and Scouts on Thursday.

To find out more about joining them, e-mail gsl@1stmarchscouts.org.uk