A NEW Cub group has been launched in Moulton and hopes to become an invaluable part of village life.

Parents Chris Storey and Andrew Ross set up the group to cater for members of Moulton's Beaver group ready to move up to Cubs.

Chris said: "There hasn't been a Cub group for the past three years due to funding and volunteers and all sorts of issues.

"I'm a parent of someone who's come through the Beaver section and got to that age and I didn't really want to take them to Barnton or Winnington.

"We're seeing lots of pressures in the village in terms of school places and children, especially with children that don't go to school in the village.

"We want to make sure there's lots of opportunities for that kind of cohesion."

The group, which meets at Moulton Village Hall, in Main Road, on Wednesday evenings, has 13 people registered and five on the waiting list.

As a new group it has a limit of 18 youngsters but Chris is confident they will quickly be able to take on 24.

He said the group already has a programme planned for the rest of the year, including trips, hikes and camps.

"We want to do things as much in the village or immediate area as possible because we've got so much richness in the area," Chris added.

"We also want to make sure we are embedded in the community and support events and wider groups and make sure that we are a cog within the bigger wheel."

Chris explained that a subsidy from St Stephen's Church had helped the group get started but he is appealing for information about any other sources of funding.

"The subs will pay for the rent but we won't have anything left over and won't be able to support those who can't afford camping trips," he said.

"We're looking for anyone that can help us with funding or direct us to anything that can support us financially, that would be a big help."

Anyone that can help should email 1stmoultoncubs@gmail.com