WHEN Hilary Freakley lost her husband Ken, she began to look for security and companionship for her future.

The dream back in November 2007 was to have a place where she could still live independently and only now has it become a reality.

Yesterday, Mrs Freakley, aged 65, became one of the first residents to move into the Mill Rise Village development in Cross Heath.

The £15 million scheme is one of the first outside London to combine extra care housing for the over 55s with a state-of-the-art primary care centre. It has been created on the site of the former Collins and Aikman factory, in Lower Milehouse Lane, and saw five residents move in yesterday.

Mrs Freakley is one of 20 to take advantage of a shared-ownership scheme. The remaining 40 apartments are for rent.

She moved into her two-bed apartment after selling her home in May Bank seven months ago and staying with her children while she watched the development shape up.

Mrs Freakley said: "It feels brilliant to get in. Now I hope we will be able to create our own little community and a lot of friendships."

She added: "I wanted to come because I don't have to worry about security and residents get things like the pleasure of the gardens without having to look after them."

Mill Rise Village residents can also enjoy a coffee shop, restaurant, gym, pharmacy, hobby room, hair salon and the services of a health and wellbeing co-ordinator. It also incorporates three GP practices.

The village has been developed by Aspire Housing, NHS North Staffordshire and Prima 200 North Staffordshire and encourages residents to live independently.

Individual living manager Sue Hailstones, who works for Aspire, the organisation managing the property, said the key to the scheme was that customers were consulted throughout the building process.

She added: "Customers were involved right from the start and it has been great to have had some really positive feedback from those who have now moved in."

Aspire chief executive Sinead Butters said: "We are delighted Mill Rise has got to this stage after being in planning and our minds for the past five years.

"We think it is gorgeous, the customers are happy and it has now become a case study nationally for health and social care provision."

Nine residents are expected to have moved into Mill Rise Village by the end of the week.

A rolling programme will then be put into place and others will move in over the next three to five weeks.

Several shared-ownership apartments are still available. Call 01782 635200 for information.