A PAIR of Scout leaders in Padiham are hoping to encourage more young people with hearing difficulties to get involved in the movement.

Roger and Rosie Urquhart, leaders of the 3rd Padiham St John's Scouts, are both fluent in British Sign Language and hope to attract new members who may have felt left out in the past.

The couple, of Burns Street, Padiham, began taking sign language lessons more than two years ago after seeing an advert for a deaf awareness course.

They have since made deaf friends and campaigned for an increased awareness of the needs of people with hearing difficulties.

Rosie, 38, now has a job working with the East Lancashire Deaf Society as a family support officer.

They became Scout leaders at the end of last year and recently organised a trip to the Isle of Man for the 20 current members, supported by Community Chest funding.

Roger, 37, a tanker driver, said: "Some kids with hearing difficulties might feel a little bit excluded and we want to open doors for them.

"We would like to invite any young person from the ages of 10 and 13-and-a-half to join us and if there are any parents of young people who have hearing loss they should feel free to visit."

The Scout Group meets every Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm at St John's Church Hall, St John's Road, Padiham.