THE first residents have moved into the redeveloped Crammer Court in Church Walk, the sheltered housing scheme for elderly people.

The finishing touches are still being put to the £5 million redevelopment of Crammer Court by Sarsen Housing Association after more than 15 months of work, and the 50 flats are expected to be fully occupied by the end of April.

The original Crammer Court was nearly 40 years old and needed updating. There were 38 bedsits and ten bungalows.

It was decided to demolish both the building and the bungalows to make way for one purpose built unit.

Former Crammer Court tenants were offered first refusal on the flats and more than 20 are to return.

Frank Daniels, 85, and his wife, Dorothy, 86, lived in a two-bedroom bungalow at the original Crammer Court for six years. They have now moved into a two-bedroom flat.

Mrs Daniels said: "We had a lovely bungalow at the old Crammer Court, in fact people used to say it was the best bungalow there. We were concerned initially about the redevelopment

"Sarsen had talked about modernising our kitchen but then they changed their minds and came up with redeveloping the site."

And she is delighted Sarsen did. "Our flat is very nice and the whole development has been well thought out," she said.

Arthur Head, 79, also lived in a bungalow at Crammer Court. He said he loves his new one-bedroom flat.

He said: "It's got a bigger living room, bigger bedroom and bigger bathroom. The flats are really excellent."

Ron and Sylvia Jordan were two of five residents on the project committee.

They have now moved into a two- bedroom flat. Mr Jordan, 77, said: "It's not like sheltered accommodation. It is more like a hotel."

The three-storey building has seating areas at the end of each corridor, communal bathrooms (each flat has a walk-in shower), a hobbies room which visiting hairdressers and chiropodists can use, a laundry room, a caf, a communal kitchen and a lounge.

Sarsen spokesman Philip Mackie said: "The residents of Crammer Court have been involved with the project from the start and seem to be delighted with the final result."