A Staffordshire couple have become the first and only residents to move into a newly built housing estate in the county. Lesley and Steve Handsaker are currently the only people living on the George Wimpey development.

They are living in their new home while hordes of workmen put the finishing touches to other properties. The couple completed their deal with the developers in three weeks and moved in after part-exchanging their old home. The part-exchange scheme lets people trade in their old home for a brand new one.

As part of the scheme, buyers of properties at Fallowfields, off Stafford Road, Huntington, near Cannock, are guaranteed a fair price and a completion date that the developers stick to.

The couple, from Hednesford, even got a free removal service, a full packing and unpacking services plus insurance.

Mrs Handsaker said: “It made all the difference to us being able to move and took all the uncertainty away as well, which really helped our stress levels.

“We really wanted to move to Huntington because it’s up-and-coming and benefiting from lots of new plans and regeneration.

“As the first to move on site we’re getting in early and taking advantage of the lower prices, because in a couple of years when it’s all finished we think it will be a very popular village.”

Sales manager Jill Griffiths added: “Part exchange is very popular because there are no agent’s fees to pay either as we’re effectively buying people’s home from them. Plus we can even accommodate chainbreaker‚ deals whereby we step in and purchase another property further down the chain if things fall through.”

The Fallowfields development comprises 85 new homes made up of three or four bedroom townhouses and three and five bed detached homes all with garages.