A group which has provided affordable housing to thousands of people in Petersfield and East Hampshire has thrown a house party of its own to mark 50 years of service.

This year is a golden one for the Petersfield Housing Association as the group was founded half a century ago.

The organisation marked the occasion by inviting many of its residents, partners and friends to a celebratory drop-in event at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery.

Chinwags provided a buffet, corks were popped and cake was cut during a memorable event.

And it all began – like most great ideas – in a pub in Petersfield in 1973 when a small group of churchgoers felt something needed to be done to get the town’s youngsters on the housing ladder.

“They put their one pound notes in the middle of the table in the pub and started to drum up support to create this organisation,” said Steve Dennis, PHA chair.

“Roll that forward 50 years and here we are. We now have 340 permanently affordable homes, and a really thriving and stable organisation which invests in local homes.”

Mr Dennis said the PHA is “redoubling its efforts” as the need for affordable housing among younger adults is now greater than 50 years ago because of the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Catherine Clark, Chair of East Hampshire District Council, thanked PHA for “making a difference in the community” before guests watched a short film made by Petersfield School pupils about life in the town over the last 50 years.

The event also included a performance by Mini Movers dance class with Linda Wallace, PHA chief executive, thanking the museum for their hospitality.

She said: “We didn’t want today to be a select thing so we’ve got a lot of our residents here, which is great to see.”