A group of Scouts have lost equipment worth £20,000 after arsonists torched a storage shelter.

About 70 Leybourne Scouts, Cubs and Beavers will be affected by the fire, which was discovered in a field near the boundary with Leybourne Grange on Monday.

Leybourne 1st Scouts leader, Karen McCloy, said: “I think these people should realise they have ruined lots of children’s fun and entertainment.”

The 1st Leybourne Scouts meet at St Peter and St Paul Primary School, but store their camping equipment in a metal container next to the football pitch at the back of the former Leybourne Grange Hospital.

The shed held all the groups’ camping equipment and twelve youngsters were due to use the gear in just less than five weeks on a Scouting camp in Essex. They will still go, but will now have to beg and borrow all the equipment they need.

Mrs McCloy said the fire would be covered by insurance, but it was still upsetting to the young people.

She said: “We went up to have a look at the site and it looks like someone has set light to the shrubbery either side and the heat has then buckled the metal container.

Firefighters from Larkfield were called to the site on Monday, at 9am.

It is suspected the fire was started deliberately.

Police are investigating. Anyone with information should contact West Kent Police on 01732 771055.