A young people's activity centre has risen from the ashes thanks to a campaign by the Kidderminster Shuttle/Times & News.

The Rhydd Covert centre near Kidderminster was torched by vandals in October 2004, and the newspaper's appeal - named Operation Covert - touched the hearts of readers who helped raise £140,000 in just 20 months to pay for a new state-of-the-art building.

Readers rallied to the cause to turn the dream of a new purpose-built centre into a reality, and local businesses donated items such as double glazing, fixtures and fittings to save thousands of pounds.

The district Scouts association, which owns the building, put forward £60,000.

Editor Clive Joyce said: "It was a tremendous community effort and the newspaper was at the heart of it.

"It was an ambitious project for us to undertake but it has underlined the power of the Shuttle/Times & News.

"Many of those backing the appeal had fond memories of Rhydd Covert, having spent time there as children. Others came to realise the value of the facility when their own children stayed there as Scouts and Guides and wanted to help secure its future."

For more than half a century Rhydd Covert has been a thriving base for outdoor activities and a spiritual home for generations of young people in the Scout and Guide movements.

Each year it attracts thousands of youngsters who are able to take part in activities including camping, archery, abseiling, climbing and shooting.

Clive added: "Operation Covert is the biggest appeal ever undertaken in this newspaper's 134-year history and it has been truly memorable.

"We have been overwhelmed by the number of people supporting us and we have made many friends along the way.

"Without the generous backing of all sections of the community we could not have achieved our goal.

"It was an ambitious target and to be opening the new building inside 20 months is truly amazing and a strong indication of the depth of generosity within our community."