KIND-HEARTED customers at a Somerset garden centre have helped a Cub Scout group in the county raise more than £1,300.

The team at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield recently presented £1,307.93 to Bishops Lydeard Oak Cubs Pack, which is based in Bishops Lydeard near Taunton, for bag packing activities they carried out in the run up to Christmas.

Norma Moore, General Manager of the family-run garden centre, which is located between Bridgwater and Taunton, said: “We are delighted to have helped the Cubs raise this fantastic amount of money.

“The 15 boys and five girls from Bishops Lydeard Oak Cubs Pack helped customers with their bag packing during the festive season and collected cash for their good deeds.

“It was a fantastic experience that helped the Cubs gain a valuable link to the community and everyone really enjoyed themselves. The experience also counted towards the Cubs Community Badge too, so we’re glad we could help the youngsters out with their fundraising efforts and help them earn their badges.”

Last year (2009), the pack celebrated 100 years of scouting in Bishops Lydeard with an organised day trip to Brownsea Island, which is situated in Poole Harbour, Dorset, where Sir Robert Baden-Powell established what is regarded to be the first Scout camp.

Janet Berry, Cub Scout Leader at Bishops Lydeard Oak Cubs Pack, said: “We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone for their generous donations. We are grateful for Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s support and hope to see everyone again next Christmas.

“The money raised will help us keep the costs of our annual summer camping trip down. Last year we went on lots of exciting daytrips, including days out to the Royal Chelsea Pensioners Hospital and Museum and Lego Land in Windsor, and we have many more exciting activities planned this year thanks to garden centre customers.”

For more information, please drop in to Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield between Bridgwater and Taunton, or call 01823 412381.

Photograph caption: (Back, from left to right) Bishops Lydeard Oak Cubs Pack Cub Scout Leaders, Val Burnett, Jeff Pugsley, Chris Bangs and Janet Berry with some of the Cubs from Bishops Lydeard Oak Cubs Pack.