Tim Peake leaves scouts starry-eyed at hut opening

Former astronaut Tim Peake left scouts over the moon when he touched down at their new scout hut.

Peake was the first Briton to set foot on the International Space Station and the first to conduct a spacewalk during his six-month mission in 2015 and 2016.

On Friday he became the first retired space man to visit a new scout hut in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

The 53-year-old, who is from Chichester, said the skills he learnt as a scout, including resilience and teamwork, came in useful in space.

He praised the community for raising more than £850,000 to build the new centre before unveiling a plaque and answering questions on life on the International Space Station.

"It was really important to get involved with [the] guys because that's where my journey started, you know, getting exposed to the great outdoors, meeting other people," Peake said.

"And all those skills that are so important in everybody's life about how you get on with other people, how you build teams, how you communicate together, work together, make decisions... that's what scouts does."

Now the scouts have a space badge.

It did not exist when Peake, who enjoyed bangers and mash and chicken curry in space, was a member.

"I think first aid was my first scout badge, and it's been very useful," he said.

Mid Sussex scouts chief volunteer, Mark Schofield, said bunting had been put up to celebrate his visit.

He said: "We made an extra effort for Tim just because we're so grateful for him to be here."

Peake's visit would be inspirational, he said.

"He'll be cutting the ribbon and we have a special plaque for him, which will be unveiled as well, at the end," Schofield said.

About 50 scouts aged four to 14 from Fifth Neighbours East Scout attended.

Peake said when he was in space batteries, pencils, pens and a pair of scissors all floated past during spacewalks.

On Friday he left his scissors, to open the centre, in his car.

"I'm going to need them," he said.