UK’s oldest first-time buyer finally gets the keys to his own bungalow at the age of 86

Edward Simon Jones said goodbye to his care home and purchased his very own bungalow in Flintshire, north Wales and explained the reason behind his late-life move

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A pensioner quit his care home to become the UK’s oldest first-time buyer after saying he was determined to have his own place to ‘spend his last days in’.

Edward Simon Jones got the keys to his bungalow in Flintshire, north Wales, earlier this week.

He achieved his ambition, paying £147,000 for his home, after years of trying to get on the property ladder.

The 86-year-old, known better as Simon, spent his whole life living on his family's farm before moving into assisted care facility Marleyfield House, where he has spent the past year.

But he has always wanted to have his own home - and bought the bungalow so he could spend the last years of his life in his own surroundings.

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He said: "I’m so excited to finally have a place of my own.

"I loved it at Marleyfield but I want to spend the remaining years I have in my own home.

"It’s been a long time coming but it’s certainly worth the wait."

Simon's niece Lynne Palin says it's something he's always wanted to do as he finally moved in.

She said: "Simon's always maintained that he wants to spend the last years of his life in his own place, and he's absolutely delighted to have the keys to his new bungalow.

"He has solar panels on the roof of the bungalow, and he thought that means he'll be getting free electricity."

"He lived on the Bychton Hall family farm in Mostyn for all his life, before moving in to Marleyfield.

"At Marleyfield he was known as being a real character, and a bit of a ladies' man - so no doubt he'll be missed there.

"The home's cat, Mikey, even slept on his bed every night."

His big move comes after the Bank of England hiked interest rates from 2.25% to 3% - the biggest single increase since 1989 and keeping the base rate at a 14-year high.

Interest rates, raised to try and cool soaring inflation, were set at 0.1% just a year ago.

The idea is that by raising interest rates, households will spend less and this should mean inflation will drop.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has pointed the finger at ousted Prime Minister Liz Truss and her disastrous economic policies for the financial turmoil.