At 63-years-old, Maureen Hopton is celebrating flying the nest and buying her first home.
Maureen, from Bridgehill, Consett, was living with her parents when she decided to make the move into her own home. Now she has purchased a new bungalow - and her new neighbour is no other than her best friend of more than 50-years.
Maureen now lives at Amethyst Homes' Regents Park development in Consett - just a few doors away from her childhood friend, Rose Moir, 64. And it was this 'Golden friendship' that set the wheels in motion.
