The charity, Shelter, has called on councils and the Government to encourage the building of more homes for the elderly.

The third sector organisation published a report last week, A better fit, which claimed the current housing market was not meeting the needs of older people. According to the report, the number of people in Britain over the age of 55 will account for one-third of the country's population by 2030, and the number of retirement homes and flats will have to increase by 70% to meet the rising demand.