A HOUSING development allowing young people from Hawkesbury Upton to buy their own homes in the village officially opened on Monday.

The nine hmes in Highfields are part of scheme by housing association Knightstone and have been a long time in the making.

In 2003 the plans got the backing of South Gloucestershire Council but the scheme's supporters had to fight for permission.

The council wanted evidence that the nine families which would benefit from a reduced rate of purchase were from Hawkesbury Upton and genuinely could not afford to live there otherwise.

Resident Vivienne Mortiboys pressed for the development, which will now allow her son - an ex-air servicemen who served in Iraq - and her grandson to remain in the village.

She said: "There are lots of young people who want to move back and if this scheme enables others to do so then fair enough.

"In order to build a strong-knitted community there needs to be a mix of people."

A housing needs survey in 2000 showed that in most cases young people who have grown up in Hawkesbury Upton are unable to buy a home in the village.

Hawkesbury Parish Council supported the scheme, which includes a two bedroom bungalow, four three bedroom houses and four two bedroom houses.

The unveiling of the new homes was celebrated by the planting of a special commemorative tree on the Highfields site.