With their wedding looming yet still both living with their parents, Nicole Balchin and Andrew James were desperate for a place to call their own.

Nicole and Andrew, who met while both working part-time at a DIY store, didn’t want to throw money away on rent, but thought there was no way they could afford a place on their own.

But thanks to Keyhomes East the 20-year-olds have recently moved into a brand new two-bedroom home at Fishermead, Milton Keynes, built as part of the Challenge Fund 2 initiative.

The couple were eligible for one of the key worker properties at the development as Andrew also serves as a special constable.

Nicole, who also works part time at a local kennels, said: “We were earning reasonable money but there is just no way we could have afforded to buy something in this area.

“We really didn’t want to get married and have to move back in with our parents, but didn’t fancy throwing money away on renting either.

“Andrew heard about the shared ownership scheme via his work as a special police constable and it just went from there.

“Our new home is fantastic and we are so pleased to have a place to call our own. It means we can get on and plan for our wedding next year, and not worry about where we are going to live.”