Youngsters living on a former airfield are joining the Scout organisation.

A new beaver colony and a cub scout pack are being set-up at Heyford Park, the old Upper Heyford air base.

The first meetings of the 1st Heyford Park group are on May 14 and follow an earlier meeting of parents and boys.

Heyford youth and community worker, Paula Hind, helped to launch the group after she conducted a survey of community needs at Heyford Park, which now has a population of nearly 800 people.

Elaine Robinson, leader of the beavers and cubs, said: "This is a very exciting time as Heyford Park is a community that is growing. It is important that we provide a range of activities for our young people and what better than a beaver colony for the six to eight-year-olds and cubs for the eight to 11-year-olds."

She already has some help from parents to run the two groups.

"But we could do with more and also someone to take over the beavers. We have about 15 beavers and 20 cubs," said Mrs Robinson, who was a cub scout leader at nearby Steeple Aston until she moved to Heyford Park.

A support committee has been formed and Keith Watson, chief executive of the North Oxfordshire Consortium, is chairman.

The consortium, which is handling the airfield development with the Ministry of Defence, is providing a building for meetings free of charge. Along with Bicester and District Scout Council, the consortium contributed some start up funds.

Mr Watson said: "I was astonished by the level of interest and excitement from these youngsters at the inaugural meeting."