CELEBRATIONS were in full swing last week at the opening of McCarthy Stone’s retirement community, The Old Market Village.

The Retirement Living Plus development welcomed its new retirees with a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the official opening.

The event was hosted by Town Mayor, Councillor Jeff Hart and TV personality Charlie Dimmock.

Charlie Dimmock stars in popular BBC show, Garden Rescue, and was offering his expertise and demonstrations on how to care for the new raised flowerbeds in the area.

The opening gave guests the chance to tour the facilities, as well as offering the new homeowners the chance to meet others moving in.

Graham and Julia Allen are some of the first to move in and stated: "We’re really looking forward to getting to know others moving in, we’re confident that it will be a really vibrant community with plenty going on.”

The goal of the development was to offer retirees the chance to move in to specialist housing, freeing up housing in the area for families and first time buyers.

Councillor Hart said: “There is an urgent need for more specialist retirement homes not just in Wimborne, but across the region.

“That’s why developers, such as McCarthy Stone, have an important role to play in meeting that burgeoning demand and ensuring people can continue to live independently in later life”.