A MILITARY history researcher group is appealing for information to find out whether a Keighley community building dates back to the First World War.

Andy Wade, of Men of Worth, commented after it was revealed earlier this month that the land on which the Fell Lane Scout Hut is sited has been sold.

Mr Wade said: "It got me wondering about the Scout hut building and where it originally came from.

"It looks to be about the size of a Great War Army hut and I was wondering if anyone knew of its history, where did it come from and how long has it been there?

"If it's from as far back as the 1920s then it could well be one of the original army huts sold off after the war.

"If anyone has any photographs showing the inside then the structure of the roof timbers could yield a clue as to its origin.

"A lot of these huts are still in use nowadays, having been well looked after.

"The Oakbank School hut at Kirkcudbright is a notable example and used to be an army officers' hut according to their school archivist.

"It's still used every year when groups of children from Oakbank School holiday there."

He added that if the one-storey wooden property off Fell Lane does date back as far as the First World War it is possible it might once have been located at Raikeswood Camp, at Skipton, which is where the Bradford Pals were once based.

He explained that these kinds of structures could be dismantled and moved to different sites relatively easily.

"I've spoken to one of the Scout leaders who is going to try and find out more," Mr Wade said. "Of course it might not come to anything, but if this hut does have some connection to the Bradford Pals it would be nice to know of that little piece of history."

The Scout Hut, which is close to Fell Lane's junction with Holme Mill Lane, is owned by 1st Keighley Scouts. It also hosts meetings of Guides, Brownies, Keighley Kiddicare and serves as a polling station on election days.

Stell Cardboard Tubes manufacturers has sold off the land on which the hut sits, but has not confirmed who owns the land now.