A Hampshire Scout group, which is looking to the future with a major makeover of its headquarters, will not be forgetting its proud past.

For 3rd Itchen North (Bitterne) Scout Group in Southampton has buried a time capsule at its Gordon Hall home where a huge windfall from the National Lottery has paved the way for major improvements.

The group was awarded £246,880 from the lottery in April. After several months of hard work by the group's project manager, Paul Upton, and the building committee the plans were finalised.

Work on the refurbishment of the hall, in Brook Road, started in September.

The work is being carried out by Wilding Butler Construction Limited of Colden Common and it is hoped to have a formal opening ceremony sometime in March.

But it was time to remember the past as a time capsule containing a fascinating profile of the group was buried at a special ceremony.

The group began in 1909 but the history of its Gordon Hall headquarters can be traced back to 1882.

Over the years it has been a fire station, library, reading room and parish hall. It was bought by the 3rd Itchen North in 1962.

In the time capsule, along with the names of the group members, are pictures of activities, including camps, over the years.

Taking pride of place are newspaper cuttings of when the group became the first winners of the Daily Echo Scouting Challenge for its conservation efforts.

The group is planning a grand reunion to celebrate the completion of its new- look headquarters.