CVS Local mode prepends slash to module name during checkout -> checkout fails

The cvs scm plugin is appending a slash to the module name when using the release plugin ( also am unable to use continuum in multiproject mode due to a similar issue. If the cvs command printed below is executed the checkout fails. If the leading slash is removed the checkout succeeds ( WinCVS is the client).

Fuller details of the problem are on the Continuum list -
http://www.nabble.com/cvs-local-checkot-problem-t1826113.html

Maven users list..
http://www.nabble.com/Problem-with-release-plugin-w--CVS-...-leading-slash-in-Repository-file--t1799709.html

<scm>
<connection>
scm|cvs|local|s:/home/cvsroot|
</connection>
</scm>

asmith_gsa@GSA11 ~/eclipse_workspace/gsagrid
$ mvn release:perform
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] Searching repository for plugin with prefix: 'release'.
[INFO]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Building Unnamed - gsa:gsagrid:jar:1.3-SNAPSHOT
[INFO] task-segment: [release:perform] (aggregator-style)
[INFO]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] [release:perform]
[INFO] Checking out the project to perform the release ...
[INFO] Executing: cvs -z3 -f -d s:/home/cvsroot -q checkout
-r mvngrid1_2 -d checkout /gsagrid