A HOUSING firm in Torfaen marked a milestone this month as they celebrated building their 4000th home.

To mark the achievement, Melin Homes held an event at its new 22-home Heol Pont y Goron site in Sebastopol, built on the old Crownbridge School site.

The housing firm now owns and manages over 4000 homes in South East Wales, with over 1700 being in Torfaen.

The event was welcomed by Torfaen Council's leader, Cllr Anthony Hunt, executive member for education Cllr David Yeowell and executive member for housing Cllr Gwyneira Clark.

The council members were taken on a guided tour of the site led by Melin's chief executive Paula Kennedy and had a chance to meet some of the residents of Heol Pont y Goron.

Ms Kennedy said:“This is a huge milestone for us at Melin and underlines the progress we have made since we started in 2007.

"None of this would be possible without our partners such as Torfaen County Borough Council and it’s a great example of how partnership working can deliver vital new homes for people."

Heol Pont y Goron resident, David Thomas, said:“Having this home is life changing for all of us a family.

"We didn’t want to move from the area as it feels like a real community here and it’s so safe for the boys.

"We feel so blessed to have this home that we will always look after it; it feels like we have won the lottery.”

Leader of Torfaen Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, added: “It is nice to walk around such an impressive, new and spacious development.

“I’ve met some of the residents here on the site and have been hearing the stories about how these homes have changed people lives. Well done to Melin.”

Melin has also committed to building over 1000 homes over the next five years and contributing the Welsh Government’s 20,000 new homes target.