A FORMER scout hut could be home to high-velocity sporting and recreational activities after councillors gave planning permission for a rifle range to be built in Woodford Green.

And the idea of gun enthusiasts perfecting their sharp-shooting has provoked mixed reactions from people living near the Finchingfield Avenue site.

Some neighbours fear the risk of flooding will be raised as the club house is constructed and that having a rifle range in the middle of a densely populated area is an inappropriate location.

Other neighbours feel the derelict former scout hut will be given a new lease of life.

But it will be some time before anybody will be firing a gun anywhere near the old scout hut.

Even though Roding Rifles and Pistols Club got the go-ahead to construct the 30-metre-long shooting range from pre-fabricated concrete blocks it could be years before bullets are whizzing down the range.

It will only go ahead if it can thrash out a deal with the council over renting the overgrown area.

Tony Walsh, general secretary of the club, which has been going since 1933 and has members ranging from eight to 82, said: "We have to move from our range in Buckhurst Hill. We don't want to go but we can't afford the new rents. Redbridge Council will be leasing us the land but we couldn't get into further expensive legal discussions until we knew we could get planning permission.

"We teach Olympic discipline shooting, where people hit targets. We train the air cadets as well."

Among the enthusiants are national champions and the club has its sights set on producing an Olympic champion.

Mr Walsh said: "We've got four national champions in the club and can coach in several precision-shooting disciplines to exceptionally high standards.

"It takes a minimum of four years to train a precision target crackshot' to Olympic standard and some young women in the club have great potential."

The rifle range will cost £150,000 to construct.