For one young couple in the Cambridgeshire village of Bluntisham the old adage 'with a new home comes a new baby' has become a reality, thanks to Accent Nene.

Edward and Simone Cameron, a local couple who recently celebrated the birth of baby girl Hero, were delighted to be offered the chance to purchase a brand new home in their home village by Accent Nene. The couple purchased the three bedroom semi-detached house on a shared ownership basis. Shared ownership allows the purchasers to buy part ownership, typically 50 per cent, in the property and rent the other 50 per cent, increasing their ownership as and when they are able to.

Mr and Mrs Cameron were previously renting an apartment just 100 yards away from the new house so they have not had to move far. This opportunity has allowed them to take their first step onto the property ladder while remaining in their local village, which they otherwise would not have been able to do.

Mrs Cameron said: "The house is fantastic and it's only yards from our old apartment so we haven't had any problems relocating. Because it is a shared ownership property it has allowed us to get a foot on the property ladder and enabled us to stay in the village.

"With a new baby we would have had to move from our apartment somewhere else entirely because nothing suitable was available in the village. We would recommend shared ownership to anyone thinking of buying their first home."

Emma Fox, sales and marketing officer at Accent Nene, added: "We are thrilled that we were able to assist the Camerons in their bid to remain in their local village by being able to offer them this lovely home in the midst of their community."

The three-bedroom semi-detached property that the Camerons have moved into is a very well specified home built by a local builder. It is a high quality, contemporary design and features solid wood double glazed windows throughout.

Accent Nene chief executive Andrew Williams said: "Rural communities are being torn apart by soaring house prices which prevent young people finding homes in their own village. Housing associations like Accent Nene can play a vital role in maintaining village communities with this sort of housing initiative."