Skelmorlie Scout Group is aiming to mark Remembrance in their own special way despite not being able to take part in its annual rituals.

The group usually mark the occasion each year out in the community but with events cancelled, leaders and young people have been forced to get creative.

A project is underway to create a display of poppies from used plastic bottles that leader Jamie Craig is hoping will become permanent.

He said: “We are unable to go to Remembrance Sunday this year so this is what we are going to do to show our support.

“We are going to make a display using the bottom of plastic bottles to make poppies that will be displayed in the Scout Hall.

“The younger kids will be making the poppies themselves and the explorers will be making up the display.

“We could possibly give it to the church next year and try and keep it as a permanent display to show our support.”

Two bins have been placed outside of the Scout hall and on Innes Park Road that residents can placed their used bottles in.

Jamie says the response from the community has been great so far, with the group over half-way to their target.

He said: “We have set a target of between 800 and 1000 poppies for the board, which is ambitious but we are hoping we can do it.

“If we don’t manage it we will just make it a bit smaller, but we will see how it goes and what support we get.

“The young people are all quite excited about the project, especially if it is going to be displayed and will last a few years.

“The support has been great so far, we have got two bins out and we are averaging three quarters of a bin per day.”

The group has recently started meeting again, with leaders aiming to get the youngsters outside as much as possible.

Jamie explained: “We’ve been doing outdoor activities but in the hall we have got to social distance and it is proving quite hard.

“With a project like this we are able to set them up around the hall and there will be no risk to the young people.

“We have all enjoyed being back, I think the youngsters needed a change and for us leaders it has been a long wait.

“We are aiming to have the last bottles in by November 4 to complete the project before Remembrance, so any support would be fantastic.”

More information about the project can be found on the 71st Ayrshire Scout Group Facebook page.