The group's hut, hidden on St Mary's Walk, has remained untouched since it was built over 50 years ago, and in its now dilapidated state it is in need of more than a touch of paint.

The peeling paint and residing damp pay testament to the knocks it has taken in its five decade history as home to 125 excitable Cubs, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Beavers.

But now the group has been granted planning permission to start afresh. The building will be levelled, and a smart new – and somewhat more hardy – home is to take its place.

"It isn't cost effective to keep repairing it," said fundraising co-ordinator Phil Pawson.

"We need modern facilities. It's now getting to the stage where it's costing money out of the funds to keep repairing, painting, and patching roofs.

"A lot of people do voluntary work but it still costs money for materials. It's not in good keep but it has a lot of value. A new building will make the world of difference."

The building will remain the same size, but modern aspects will take the place of the currently outdated and often cranky facilities. New bathrooms will be installed, this time with disabled access and shower rooms.

Airy storage rooms will replace the dank backroom now used as a place to dry out tents after a wet weekend. A bright activities hall, with a heating system, will be built, as well as a brand new kitchen, leader room and meeting rooms.

A facelift will do more though, than make the hut more comfortable for the Scouts. It will provide a community hall in the Cold Bath Road area of Harrogate where now there is none.

It is an opportunity for the community, says Mr Pawson, as the new building will provide a meeting space for any number of community groups.

"If we are going to build a community building then people will use it," he said. "There is nowhere around here that people can go.

"With the new building, groups like mother and toddler, after school clubs, and exercise groups can use it.

"To maximise its potential, let's make it a community building that other people can use. But to be used as more than a Scout Hut we have got to upgrade the facilities."

The Lions, as the Scout Group is known, are now embarking on a fundraising campaign to fund the rebuild, which they hope will be matched by funding from Lottery groups.

"This is a challenge," said Mr Pawson. "You see these kids, they start Scouting at a very young age and there is something for them to do. It's vital to them to keep this going. I think it's a crying shame that it's like this.

"When we're fundraising we always go to the parents, but you can only go to them so many times. This time we're going to open the net. I'm looking at it as a two way thing – we can do something about it but at the same time have a bit of fun.