A quartet of kind-hearted Norfolk businessmen have come to the aid of West Runton Scouts, after thieves stole £1,000-worth of equipment from the group's activity stores at their Cromer Road headquarters.

Archery equipment, life jackets and laptops were taken during the break-in six months ago and because there was a £500 insurance excess to pay, the group faced the prospect of using part of the cash they had raised towards a shower and toilet extension to buy replacements.

However when Martin Read, who owns Sheringham activity centre Hilltop, read about the theft in the News's sister paper, the Eastern Daily Press, he contacted Graham Harris, of Norwich-based archery suppliers Clickers, and the pair agreed to donate £250 each to cover the group's losses.

Two other Norfolk businesses followed suit, with Norfolk Marine, of Hoveton, donating lifejackets and former West Runton Scout Andrew Harding, who owns Kings Lynn company Collier Turf, pitching in with £200.

Paul Henrikesen, who recently handed over his long-held group Scout leader role to Helen Cardani, thanked the businessmen for their 'amazing' support.

'It means that we can continue to offer the great range of fun activites we have in Scouting at West Runton,' he said.

To celebrate, Mr Read invited Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and leaders to join Mr Harding and his staff and test their mettle on Hilltop's giant air jump.

Designed by Mr Read's son Olly, 35, who is a former West Runton Scout, the £35,000 attraction was installed a year ago.

It features a wooden tower with staged jumps of between 13 and 33ft, from which youngsters and adults can freefall onto a giant inflatable 'bag'.

'Because Olly really benefited from Scouting, we were more than happy to help and I thought this would be a great way of making an occasion of it,' Mr Read said.

To find out more about joining West Runton Scout group, visit www.westruntonscouts.org