A HOUSING firm has sold 23 homes in Gwent during the coronavirus lockdown - with the sales completed entirely virtually.

Persimmon has been running virtual sales throughout the pandemic, with more than 100 sales competed across Wales - including 13 in Abergavenny and 10 in Caerphilly.

All consultations and purchases have been done through phone calls, emails and video tours.

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Sales director at Persimmon Homes East Wales Vicky Williams said: “We are, of course, looking forward to welcoming house hunters back to our sites but, until then, we will serve them in any way we can.

“The lockdown is clearly going to cause a stall in the second-hand housing market in Wales as people cannot get out to view properties.

“But new-builds are typically bought off-plan in any case, so it is less of a problem.”

Off-plan buying means that aspects of the home including the kitchen and bathroom can be personalised.