THE first resident to move into one of the bungalows replacing Newport's post-war prefabs was shown around her new home yesterday.

Margaret Heames (pictured) has lived in a prefab on the Bishpool Estate for six years - and "can't wait" to move in to her new bungalow next week.

The 76-year-old, who uses a wheelchair, found the bungalow easier to move around in. Mrs Heames' new home is next door to a show bungalow, which was officially opened yesterday by Edwina Hart, Assembly minister for finance and the communities.

The minister said she could understand why the residents were so attached to the prefabs because, as a child, she had often stayed for weeks at a time at her aunt's prefab in Birmingham.

She added it was important to recognise the genuine partnerships which had contributed to making the new bungalows such a success.

Newport Housing Trust - the housing association to which prefab tenants voted to be transferred in 1999 - was formed in partnership with Newport council and the National Assembly.

But the minister said: "The most important partnership has been with the residents, and at the end of the day we all have something to be proud of."

The mayor of Newport, Councillor Ron Morris, said he thought the bungalows were "wonderful".

"It will be a long time before the last one is occupied, but it was a battle worth fighting," he said.

"The prefabs were built for the heroes who came back from war and a lot of people felt they should hang onto them, but I think they've been proved wrong by this wonderful building today."

Diane Page, secretary of the Bishpool and Treberth Residents Group, said: "I think they are really, really nice. Some of us have had dates now to move in, and we can't wait."