A 43-year-old Penryn man with learning disabilities has been able to move closer to his family, thanks to the opening of a new care home in the town he grew up in.

Chris Ferris, who has Down’s Syndrome, moved into Cross Keys care home in Penryn in November following a four year period moving between places.

He grew up in Penryn, where he lived with his parents, but since his father died in 2009 he has lived with family and in respite care homes in various locations around Cornwall including Launceston, Bodmin and St Austell.

Moving into Cross Keys, which is run by the Swallowcourt group, means that Chris is able to spend more time with his family who live nearby.

His eldest sister Sarah Hendriks and her husband, Malcolm, live a short drive away in Falmouth.

Sarah said: “He originally came to Cross Keys on a temporary basis, but we wanted to make it permanent, which we succeeded in doing and now this is where he calls home.

“We were amazed the first time he called it home because he’s never said it before in all the places he’s been.

“He’s settled now - he knows that we’re not far away and that his brother, Nick, is just up the road.”

The new location of the home means that Chris is able to work with his brother, town councillor Nick Ferris, at his skip hire business in Penryn.

“Chris goes to help out his brother Nick now and again,” Sarah said, “he likes to be active.

“He grew up with Nick, there’s not much age difference between the two, so they’re very close.”

“He couldn’t work with his brother before he moved back to Penryn, he could only see Nick if he went to visit him to take him out for the day.”

Now a permanent resident of Cross Keys, Chris – who wants to be a DJ - is enjoying his freedom at the home.

“I love it,” he said, “I like making my own cup of tea and the people here are nice.”

More than £1 million has been spent on the Cross Keys by Swallowcourt, which opened the care home in October last year.

It is one of seven care homes across west Cornwall operated by the company.