Nearly £500 was raised by scouts in Romford in memory of their former leader who died from bowel cancer last year.

The 2nd Romford Scout Group raised £496.37 in aid of the Paul Leeper memorial fund as part of scout community week.

The scouts set up a wheel of fortune outside B&Q in Gallows Corner, Romford, on Sunday, June 2, and invited customers to give £1 to spin the wheel and try to win a hanging basket or pot plant which was donated by the hardware store.

Julie Leeper, group scout leader, said: “Scout Community Week is all about doing things to help your local community.

“Around 25 members of the group gave their time to come along on Sunday to entice customers into spinning the wheel, unload trolleys or rattle our collection bucket and we are really pleased with the result.”