A CUB pack’s time capsule containing a slice of 1970s life has been re-buried in Littlemore after it was discovered and opened last year.

Members of the 28th Oxford Cub Scouts buried the metal box at Cardinal House in 1979, instructing anyone who found it to only open it up again 50 years later in 2029.

But when the block of Oxford City Council flats was redeveloped last year, builders unearthed the capsule buried in a wall of the sheltered accommodation complex.

Cubs from the pack took the chance to open it up and have a look at what their predecessors had stored away.

Now they have updated the contents, and the time capsule was placed back in the wall of the newly refurbished home, for future cubs to discover and re-open in 18 years’ time.

Cub Scout leader Andrew Thorpe, 35, said: “The discovery came out of the blue.

“I first joined the pack in 1984, five years after the capsule was placed here, and I knew nothing about it.

“We got a call last year saying it had been discovered and whether we wanted to see what was in it.

“Everybody was really excited.”

When it was opened, cubs found an original 1970s uniform, stamps, coins, slides and some cine-film.

Now the 20-strong pack have replaced the capsule for future re-discovery, and added a modern uniform, video clips on a memory stick and a copy of the Oxford Mail.

David Allport, 10, said: “We spent hours looking through everything. It was really weird because there was lots of badges that do not exist any more, and the uniform was very different.

“I think cubs must have changed massively since then.”

Fred Mogridge, 81, who was the assistant commissioner for Scouts in Cowley in 1979, was at Cardinal House on Sunday to see the capsule reburied.

He said: “I remember we definitely put something in back in 1979, but what it was I am not certain.

“It was a rather unique thing at the time. I cannot remember any other time capsules being buried.”

He added: “Over the years, the uniform has changed and there is less emphasis on uniform, but I think Cubs and Scouts remain the same as regards its principles.”

Cardinal House’s redevelopment by Oxford City Council includes 20 new sheltered housing units and refurbishment of 33 one and two-bedroom flats.

Residents, all over 55, who moved out during the work, have now returned to their homes.