A Winchester woman has spoken of her delight at being able to move back to the village she was born in.

Anne Blake has returned to Twyford with her husband Peter after living in Winchester for the past few years.

She was able to come back home after securing a house in a new 15-home development.

Hewlett Close has been built by Hazeley Developments in partnership with the Hyde Group housing association, city council, parish council and Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing (HARAH).

Anne was born in the village, attended the primary school, married Peter in St Mary’s Church, and christened their children there too.

But after retiring from running Abbeyfield Care Home in the village she and Peter found they could not afford a house there and moved into a flat in Winchester.

Anne, 67, said: “We missed Twyford dreadfully as most of our lives had been Twyford, Twyford, Twyford.

“I didn’t think I would ever get back here. Having been born here I wanted to die here but I thought the chances of that happening were zero and I still have to pinch myself that I’m back in this village and it’s so lovely for me.

“When I walk to the post office or go to the doctor I always see someone I know along the way and my sister and brother live in the village too so they are just a few minutes’ walk away.”

Peter, 68, a retired taxi driver, added: “It’s fantastic to be back and we feel at home. It’s everything we wanted. We can even see our old house from here.”

The development was built on a planning ‘exception site’ and went ahead on condition that Twyford families got first choice.

Mayor of Winchester Frank Pearson officially opened the development on Monday (Sept 24), also the beginning of national Rural Housing Week.

He said: “It is through Rural Housing Week that we need to raise the profile of the need for these small groups of exception housing in rural communities.”