BURY resident Naomi Heaton gave herself the key to the door when she re-opened Wellington House sheltered housing scheme.

Naomi (94) was joined by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Wilf Davison, at the official unveiling of the £700,000 project.

Sited in Haig Road, Bury, Wellington House closed in October 2002 for work to convert the 20 bedsit properties with shared bathrooms into 14 one-bedroom, wheelchair-friendly flats with level-access showers.

During re-building work residents were moved to Elton Square House and other nearby schemes but most of them have returned. The house re-opened in November and is fully occupied.

Naomi, who has lived there since 1992, said: "The improvements have made everywhere lovely and comfortable and my flat now feels just like home."

Coun Mike Connolly, executive member for health and social services, said: "By investing in Wellington House, we are recognising that the kind of bedsit facilities with shared bathrooms it previously provided is no longer acceptable. The new facilities will provide dignity."