SWINDON'S Sea Scouts invaded a shopping centre car park to raise money for a new safety boat.

The scouts hosted an autumn fair, complete with stalls and children's entertainers at the Orbital Retail Park in North Swindon.

The day's activities proved popular with visitors to the shopping centre and took the group closer to their £7,000 fundraising target.

To help reach it, housing firm Taylor Woodrow provided the Scouts with a £200 boost to their campaign.

Sue Hurst, group executive committee member for the First Swindon Sea Scout Troop, said: "We are very grateful to Taylor Woodrow and all our supporters for their kind contributions.

"Due to their generosity and the troop's hard work, the replacement motor-powered boat is now firmly in our sights."

The boat will be held at the Bowmoor Sailing Club at the Cotswold Water Park and will serve as an essential safety function when the Sea Scouts are carrying out their water-based activities.