"THIS is the future for older people"... that was the verdict from St Helens Council Leader Marie Rimmer in welcoming the opening of a new retirement village for the town.

Cllr Rimmer, along with other dignitaries attended the opening ceremony at the new Reeve Court Village, off Elton Head Road, Rainhill, last week.

She said: "We have just completed a consultation exercise with older people and what came out is that they don't want to go into care.

"They want to stay in their own homes among their friends as part of society - and this fits into our strategy. Older people really do want their own independence."

Reeve Court, is a £20.3m project set up through a joint venture between St Helens Housing Association, The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, St Helens Council and St Helens Primary Care Trust.

It will provide homes for more than 300 people, who will be able to enjoy a range of life enhancing amenities, from a gym, to a hairdressing centre and shop.

And a genuine attempt has been made to create a community atmosphere at the new village, which has been building up a bond between staff and future residents over some months with a host of special fun-filled events including days out at the races, carol concerts and even camping, abseiling and canoeing expeditions to the west country.

Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Betty Lowe MBE, was also impressed with what she saw. "I could live here," she admitted. She added that Reeve Court is a world-class facility. "I will continue to look into ways as to how I can support them," she added.

North West Euro MP Terry Wynn was another guest treated to a guided tour of the complex and Terry was confident of its success: "A lot of elderly people are scared of living in their own neighbourhood.

"Here they feel companionship and can live their lives to the full. It's people's quality of life that matters."