If it wasn’t for the new Help to Buy scheme, Shropshire primary school teacher Laura Farr and boyfriend Daniel Shotton say they couldn’t have bought their new Bovis home.

The 23-year-old first-time buyers were both still living at home and although they had saved for a deposit they had no success obtaining a mortgage for the balance.

But on a visit to the Bovis Homes development at Cleobury Mortimer, where they fell for a three-bedroom Bradbury home, sales advisers suggested they look at Help to Buy, the Government-backed scheme launched this year to help both first-timers and existing homeowners.

The scheme includes a 20 per cent equity loan from the Government, which leaves the buyer requiring a 75 per cent mortgage and a five per cent deposit.

Laura, who teaches at Burford Primary School, said: “If it wasn’t for Help to Buy we just wouldn’t have been in a position to buy our new home. Despite us both being in full-time work we were unable to secure a mortgage.

“The Bovis Homes adviser was really helpful. She told us all about the scheme and offered us the necessary application forms. We had to fulfil various criteria to prove we were eligible and that we could maintain the mortgage payments.”

Once their Help to Buy application was approved, Bovis Homes put the couple in touch with an independent mortgage broker who secured them a mortgage for 75 per cent of the value of their new home.

Laura added: “The broker was really good, he came to see us at home, chatted through everything and explained all the finances and figures so we knew exactly what was what. Although we had to go through the process of first applying for Help to Buy and then a mortgage, it was worth it in the end.”

The couple love their new terraced home at Cleobury Park that came with an impressive fitted kitchen with dishwasher, fridge freezer and washing machine and also a garage, parking space and rear garden that even boasts its own shed!

Said a delighted Laura: “We’re both from Cleobury so it’s great to be living in our home town close to our families and friends. We really like the development as there are a lot of other young couples and families here too which is nice, but we’re still getting used to the idea that we’re actually living in our own home!”

Bovis Homes Group Marketing Director Kevin Wilkins said: "Help to Buy is helping to make 2013 a great year to move into a brand new home for buyers like Laura and Daniel. We’ve seen many people who had been holding back from making a move deciding to make the most of the five per cent deposit requirement."

The Government equity loan is interest-free for the first five years and is repayable within 25 years or when the home is sold.

For more information about Help to Buy and Bovis Homes developments in the area, visit www.bovishomes.co.uk.