Scouts from the 28th Oxford troop clear up after thousands of pounds' worth of equipment was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Leader Ian Meadows held a crisis meeting at the troop's Fairlie Road headquarters in Cowley last night, 24 hours after a garage they used for storage went up in flames. The blaze left the lock-up a charred shell, with metal roof girders twisted by the heat. Three tents worth almost 900 each were destroyed, along with gas canisters, cookers and other camping equipment.

Mr Meadows, 29, said: "How could anybody do this? We have lost the majority of our tents and camping equipment, but we will continue nothing will stop us."