The £178.5m Norwich Northern Distributor Road has its critics, but the 15th Norwich Air Scouts are full of praise for the team building it - after they came to the group's rescue.

Visitors to the group's car park at its Plumstead Road East headquarters used to get a sinking feeling, because the car park turned into a quagmire when it rained.

Jonathan Emsell, a Broadland district councillor and parent of one of the scouts, had the bright idea of asking the NDR construction team if they can spare any material to firm up the car park. And contractor Balfour Beatty not only agreed to provide some materials, but saw it as a chance to give their graduate engineers vital experience.

The seven-strong team, led by Anthony Chilvers and Daniel McGill, carried out work, which included locating and exposing utility service pipes and cables. finding and restoring the failed drainage system and breaking out the old surface and laying a new freer-draining surface.

Other NDR sub-contractors also lent their support without charge, including Pips Skips (through Reconomy), Flannery, HW Martins, John Henry and Arbus.

Mr McGill, joint leader, said the project had 'helped me understand the construction process from a different perspective. I can now understand why managers can be so stressed!'

The team and contributors were invited back to the Air Scouts' HQ to mark completion of the project.

Simon Alexander, group scout leader, said: 'During wet weather our car park became an absolute quagmire. We would like to say a huge thank you to Balfour Beatty and the various contractors who contributed to the resurfacing work which has been invaluable to the group.

'All of our work in scouting is voluntary. If we need major work done to the facilities we normally must raise the money from our own efforts.

'Having a well-drained, solid surface is an enormous help both to parents and leaders.'

The NDR, when completed, will stretch from the A47 at Postwick to the east of Norwich to the A1067 Fakenham Road.

• Are you involved with a community group which has been handed a boost? Tell us all about it by emailing dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk or calling 01603 772375.