The oldest and the youngest came together to say goodbye to their old Scout HQ -- and welcome the start of its £330,000 replacement.

The oldest former 1st Cholsey Scout, John Money, 78, left, and youngest members Gregory Fraser, six, and Mary Barton, five, right, with Scout leader Martin Harrison and vice-chairman Val Bolt in front of the old hut

The dilapidated building at Cholsey finally came down with a cheer on Friday. The youngest members of the Scout group in the village -- Cub Mary Barton, five, and Beaver Gregory Fraser, six -- joined 78-year-old John Money.

He is the oldest living former Scout with the Cholsey organisation.

He said: "When my Scouting career started out our hut was an old galvanised tin shack which had a tiny stage and a little store room.

"Times were hard -- I couldn't afford a uniform but I did have a red toggle and a yellow kerchief. We went on parades in St Mary's Church and in Wallingford."

The ex-War Department wooden building was 80 years old and in poor condition.

Its replacement will be purpose-built, allowing the Scouts a full range of activities with storage space and will also be used by other community groups.

South Oxfordshire District Council has given the project more than £27,000, in addition to the £77,000 given two years ago. The original grant application did not take into account £32,000 for professional fees and £26,000 for extra work on piling the foundations. The project has also been given almost £213,000 by the National Lottery.

Colin McInnes, chairman of Cholsey Scouts, said the old building had defects which could not be rectified and there are no viable alternatives in the village.

He said the new HQ would provide a modern, up-to-date facility suitable for everyone and for other local groups and associations.

Mr McInnes said he hoped work on it would start very soon so that it could open before Christmas.