Families have celebrated the completion of 12 new homes which have brought much-needed affordable housing to a Norfolk village.

The new one-to-three bedroom houses are available for affordable rent off Jubilee Avenue, East Harling, and have been built by Flagship Group in partnership with contractors H Smith and Sons (Honingham) Ltd and architects Barefoot and Gilles.

Properties in the small-scale development, called Centenary Close, include sustainable features such as solar thermal panels to generate hot water ensuring residents benefit from homes which are energy and cost-efficient throughout the year.

Adam Broadway, Flagship Director, said: 'Our purpose is to provide homes for people in need so we've been delighted to be able to deliver affordable housing in such a desirable rural area.

'We're keen to continue working with local authorities to provide more housing across the east of England so more families have the chance to enjoy quality homes in places where they want to live.'

For one family, the increased availability of affordable housing in the village has meant they have been able to live under the same roof for the first time.

New resident Ryan Quick had been sleeping on sofas since returning to the Breckland area after leaving the Army and having to give up his military accommodation.

He desperately wanted to find a home with his partner Terrie Chambers, and children Aiden, 10, and Alex, 18 months, who had remained in Leicester where Ryan had been stationed.

Mr Quick said: 'I used to only see my family at weekends before so this is the first time we've all been together. It's brilliant to be here for them - I can take them to school, put them to bed. It's also nice to have a garden.'

Miss Chambers added: 'I feel safe here. I can let Aiden go down to the park with his new friends which I haven't felt able to before.'

Neighbour Sarah Baldry and her children Holly, 14, and Daniel, 12, have also benefited from the new homes.

She said: 'This house has been a massive, positive change for us. It's lovely to be able to enjoy being in your home because it has everything we need. I'm not sure where we would have gone – it would have been a struggle for us to find somewhere suitable.'