Girlgirling in Garstang: Town's Girlguides, Brownies and Rainbows so popular the waiting list now stands at 64

Guiding in Garstang is a record breaker.

There has been a surge in interest in guiding in and around the town despite the Covid pandemic lockdown.

Now proud leaders of the numerous Guide, Brownie and Rainbow groups have tallied up their record of recruitment and success and are appealing for more helpers.

Girlguiding Garstang Rural District is expanding and needs new volunteers to meet the soaring demand for places. In particular the district team is working with Catterall Village Hall committee to create space for a new Rainbow unit.

Spokeswoman Rebecca Hubbard, an assistant leader with Guides and Rangers, said: "We have two Rainbow units, four Brownie units, two Guide units and one Ranger unit. We currently have 151 girls within our units and 64 on our unit waiting lists."

Of those on the waiting list 40 are waiting to move up into a new unit and 24 are new to guiding.

Rebecca said: "We have continued to run meetings virtually through lockdown, have recently had over 20 young people complete their Duke of Edinburgh award and are looking at opening a new unit. We have been able to welcome an unprecedented amount of new young members despite the restrictions. This wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic group of creative and versatile leaders/young leaders, coming up with new ideas each week, to run meetings virtually and to keep girls involved throughout lockdown. Now we are back running face to face Guiding it is lovely to see everyone again and we wish to thank everyone, volunteers, and parents alike, in supporting Guiding through this time."