Kenilworth's new Scout and Guide Centre will open officially this Saturday (February 24).

Leaders are encouraging locals to come down to the new facility at Castle Farm from 11am for the official opening and to find out more about getting involved.

The event will run alongside the official opening of the town's new leisure centre which will be attended by Olympic 110m hurdles silver medallist Colin Jackson.

The building, which includes the Scout and Guide Centre, opened its doors for the first time in December following 20 months of construction.

Scouts and Guides have since been moving all their kit over to the new centre, and getting settled in.

Inside the new Scout and Guide Centre (image by James Smith)

"As Kenilworth grows there are more and more young people wanting to get involved in Scouting," said 1st Kenilworth Scout Group chairman Peter Cox to Nub News.

"The sad reality is demand is outstripping availability of places and in some cases young people go on the waiting list and never get a place.

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"Kenilworth is lucky to have recently opened a brand-new, purpose-built, Scout and Guide Centre, located in Fishponds Road (to the right of the new Castle Farm Leisure Centre)."

The "fabulous" new facilities at the £16 million building will allow the group to open new Squirrel (four to six years), Beaver (six to eight years), Cub (eight to 10½ years) and Scout (10½ to 14 years) sections.

The group does, however, need more leaders and volunteers to help run these groups.

One of the new spaces at the centre (image by James Smith)

"Perhaps you were a Beaver, Cub or Scout, or maybe you have children who'd like to become involved, either way, volunteering a couple of hours a week and the odd weekend could make a massive difference to our local young people," Peter added.

"Parents who volunteer automatically place their children at the top of the waiting list.

"Why not come down from 11am on Saturday and take a look at what we get up to, bring your children along and meet some of our young people and leaders.

"The formal opening ceremony will take place at 11.30am, but If you can't make the opening don't worry, the Scout and Guide Centre will be open until 3pm with refreshments available all day.

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"Experts will be on hand to discuss what's involved, what training we can offer and all the local groups will be there to discuss taking new entrants."

The event will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire and representatives and members of the local Scout and Guide community.

The new Castle Farm Leisure Centre will also be officially opened on Saturday (image by James Smith)